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$10 million wharf extension to allow more cruise ships

Author
NZ Newswire,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Nov 2017, 6:05PM
The 'dolphin' will be available for 2019/20 cruise season. (Photo/NZME)
The 'dolphin' will be available for 2019/20 cruise season. (Photo/NZME)

$10 million wharf extension to allow more cruise ships

Author
NZ Newswire,
Publish Date
Thu, 23 Nov 2017, 6:05PM

Auckland could become a major South Pacific cruise ship hub after the city's council announced the building of two large moorings.

Auckland Council agreed on Thursday to proceed with the development of two outer dolphin mooring structures located between 80 and 85 metres off the northern edge of Queens Wharf, connected by a walkway, to berth ships over 300 metres long.

The dolphin, costing $10 million, should be available for the 2019/20 cruise season, providing a boost to the $220m and 4000 jobs that the cruise industry already creates.

Ship visits have grown from 40 in 2006 to 135 in 2018 and passenger numbers from 60,000 to 220,000 over the same period.

In 2006, the longest liner to visit was 294m long - today, it's not uncommon for them to be 350m long, with the new Oasis-class ships being 362m long.

The New Zealand Cruise Association was delighted with the news of the dolphin.

"This decision has taken a long time but it is an important one," NZCA chief executive Kevin O'Sullivan said.

"It gives the cruise industry an important signal that Auckland is ready to become a major hub in the South Pacific.

"Cruise ships are getting larger and we must be able to welcome them in order to reap the economic benefits from the fast-growing cruise sector."

Resource consent will be lodged early next year, along with detailed design work.

- NZ Newswire

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