Heavy swells thwart Jewel’s maiden visit

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE cruise ship Norwegian Jewel came close to carrying out her maiden visit to Gisborne on Waitangi Day only to be thwarted by large swells.

The ship eventually sailed away.

The 93,500-tonne, 294-metre-long ship, with around 2300 passengers on board, slipped into Turanganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay at around 7am yesterday, and went to anchor near the end of the port navigation channel.

However, swells on the city beachfront built up steadily from about that time and by 9am had reached 1.5m-plus along the city beaches.

The ship's captain deemed conditions were unsuitable for the tending of passengers ashore and the ship sailed into the distance at around 9am.

“The decision to sail away was completely out of our control,” said Trust Tairawhiti general manager tourism Adam Hughes.

“It was disappointing. We had all our preparations in full swing.

“The steam train was warmed up, the tour groups were ready to go and the market was set up.

“That's 2000-plus people who were unable to come ashore and enjoy our city and what it has to offer, so we are disappointed for them, too,” said Mr Hughes.

The next cruise ship scheduled to call here is the Regatta on Saturday, February 15.

A loaded log ship at Eastland Port, the Naruto Strait, was also delayed by the big swells, but finally got away early this morning.