Australia’s cruise industry hit a stumbling block recently, when an independent report commissioned by the Australian government concluded that cruise ships should not be allowed to routinely dock at Sydney’s Garden Island naval base.
“The primacy and enduring nature of the defense task should not be surrendered to seasonal commercial imperatives of the cruise industry, whose current popularity could be affected by varying economic, security or other factors,” said the report.
According to Cruise Down Under, a marketing organization for Australia’s cruise industry, Sydney has two dedicated cruise berths. One is east of the city’s Harbour Bridge and one is west of it.
The eastern location is where the city’s Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) is situated, at Circular Quay. Big ships need to dock there because the western dock requires ships to sail under the 440-foot Harbour Bridge — not tall enough for some larger vessels.
Overcrowding at the OPT is more pronounced during the peak cruise season, January to March, and from time to time ships have been approved to dock at nearby Garden Island, which is home to the Royal Australian Navy. Vessels don’t have to sail under the bridge to reach it.
Certain cruise operators, such as Carnival Australia, had hoped to use Garden Island much more frequently during peak season, but the “Report of the Independent Review of the Potential for Enhanced Cruise Ship Access to Garden Island Sydney” appears to have put the kibosh on that, at least for now.
“Sydney just experienced its busiest month ever for cruise ships, when a record 26 ships made an unprecedented 33 visits during February alone,” said Peter Taylor, director of corporate affairs for Carnival Australia.
“This was five more than in February 2011. Full capacity at the Overseas Passenger Terminal means several ships have to moor mid-harbor [and ferry] passengers ashore. Carnival Australia has been pushing for shared access to the Garden Island naval facility for some time to handle the overflow of ships at the terminal,” he said.
The report listed several options “but did not provide a clear pathway for increased access in the short term,” said Taylor.
It does allow for ongoing "ad-hoc" use of Garden Island, he noted.
Carnival Australia has six ships homeported in Australia, said Taylor, all are P&O and Princess vessels, and all fit under the Harbour Bridge.
However, he said, “We will have the Carnival Spirit calling Australia home from October 2012, and it will dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.”
Ann Sherry, the CEO of Carnival Australia, responded to the report.
“Leadership at the highest levels of government is essential or Australia risks putting a brake on the standout success of the tourism sector in a difficult economic environment,” she said, adding, “There are also alternatives for international cruise operators. Singapore and other major world cities have embraced cruising and have built state-of-the-art facilities to make the most of the economic opportunity.”
According to Taylor, the Australian government will review the report and make recommendations. No timetable is set for that yet, however.