Princess to test queen city port

By SIMON HENDERY tourism writer

This summer's arrival of the biggest cruise ship to sail to New Zealand has prompted the vessel's local agent to question whether Auckland has the capacity to handle increasingly popular "mega-liners".

Ports of Auckland says it is well prepared to handle the "floating cities" which will tower above the city's wharfs.

P&O Cruises' $1 billion liner Star Princess - which at 109,000 tonnes is larger than the world's biggest aircraft carrier - makes its inaugural visit to New Zealand in November and will make four calls into Auckland this summer.

The 290m long ship is 18-storeys high and can accommodate 2600 passengers and 1100 crew - almost 1000 more passengers than other cruise liners doing the New Zealand circuit.

Barry Phelps, New Zealand manager for Beaufort Shipping Agency which brings Princess Cruises ships into New Zealand ports, said the arrival of a ship the size of the Star Princess raised issues about Auckland's ability to efficiently handle the passenger and stores movements associated with mega-liners.

Auckland is often a key "turn-around" port on cruise ship schedules - a stop-off point where passengers left the cruise to be flown back to Australia and a new group of Australian arrivals board the ship.

Phelps said the overseas passenger terminal at the Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf - operated by Ports of Auckland's Marine Services team - had worked well until now, but the facility would be stretched when it came to moving about 5000 passengers on and off a single ship during the course of a day-long turn-around.

Cruise ships often docked at adjacent Queens Wharf when Princes Wharf's two berths were occupied - it provided easier access for buses and taxis, but space was often at a premium because it was used for unloading imported cars.

Cruise ship passengers are estimated to spend more than $170 million in New Zealand each year, about 60 per cent of that in Auckland.

Phelps said Princess Cruises - which brings a large number of liners to New Zealand - could reconsider the future of Auckland as a destination if there were delays and negative customer feedback during a turn-around by Star Princess.

"They're not asking for a flash new terminal, they're just asking for space, but that is at a premium."

Ports of Auckland said Marine Services staff had visited the vessel in Seattle to observe portside operations and to present plans for handling passenger exchanges in Auckland.

Princess Cruises had expressed confidence that Auckland can successfully manage the visits, the port company said.

"After the visit to Seattle, we are comfortable that our ability to handle the large passenger exchanges is a matter of procedure rather than facilities," Marine Services manager Wayne Mills said.