Cruise Update

Season Begins

Nineteen cruise ships visited Sydney Harbour in November as Sydney’s busiest cruise season on record kicked into action.

This included return visits of P&O’s new Oriana, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Rhapsody of the Seas, Holland America’s Amsterdam and the Orion Cruises’ Orion at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

The 2010 Sydney cruise season began on 1 October, with 150 cruise ship visits scheduled in 2010/2011 for Sydney Harbour — a 26% increase on last year.

It is also the first time passenger numbers are expected to break the 300,000 mark, injecting an estimated $190 million into the NSW economy. This cruise season Sydney also sees the return of ‘Cruise February’ — 28 cruise ship visits are expected in the 28 days of February.

In announcing the season, the Minister for Ports, Treasurer Eric Roozendaal said that “the record number of cruise ship visits this season confirmed Sydney’s importance as Australia’s major cruise hub and its position as the leading cruise destination in Australia.”

Volendam in Defence Exercise

For passengers and crew aboard one of the visiting cruise ships, the Holland America Line’s Volendam, an army training exercise on 19 November at the Overseas Passenger Terminal delivered them a novelty highlight for their visit.

Four Black Hawk helicopters conducted ‘approach and hover’ manoeuvres over the Volendam.

The exercise was aimed at ensuring that Army pilots and aircrew are well trained for flying in all conditions across city and urban areas.

For the full story, click here.

White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal

The Environmental Assessment for the White Bay Cruise Passenger Terminal was on public exhibition by the Department of Planning for 33 days from Wednesday 13 October until Monday 15 November 2010.

The public and industry were given the opportunity to comment on the project application and environmental assessment for the White Bay Terminal.

Over 150 submissions were received during the public exhibition period, with Leichhardt Council seeking an extension until 24 November 2010.

Sydney Ports Corporation is now reviewing the submissions and will prepare a response to the issues raised to the Department of Planning.

In addition, on 23 October, Sydney Ports hosted a public information session in Balmain for the local community, to provide an overview of the Environmental Assessment and to listen to residents’ comments on the proposed terminal at White Bay.

The information session, attended by about 50 local residents, was an informal event with storyboards, images and plans displayed for the residents to review and discuss with Sydney Ports’ representatives.

Upcoming for the Month of December

December 2010 will see sixteen cruise visits into Sydney including P&O’s luxurious 116,000-tonne Diamond Princess returning to these shores for the first time this cruise season, as well as return visits of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Rhapsody of the Seas and Silver Seas Cruises Silver Shadow.

The full Cruise Schedule can be found here.

OPT Anniversary

December 2010 marks the 50th Anniversary of the official opening of the Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal – now known as the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT).

Located at Circular Quay West, the terminal was officially opened by the Hon. J B Renshaw, MLA Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Lands on 20 December 1960.

Ten days later the 45,000 tonne superliner "Oriana", on her maiden voyage to Sydney Harbour, was the first vessel to berth at the new terminal.

The terminal has since undergone two major refurbishments in 1988 and 2001 and remains Australia’s premier International cruise passenger terminal.