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SYDNEY PORTS CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 12

SYDNEY PORTS CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 12

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CrUISE<br />

IN DECEmBER 2011, <strong>SYDNEY</strong> wAS vOTED ThE BEST INTERNATIONAl<br />

CRuISE PORT, FOR ThE SEvENTh YEAR IN A ROw, IN Cruise<br />

Passenger mAgAzINE READER’S ChOICE AwARDS. ThE mAgAzINE<br />

COmmENTED ON ThE wONDER OF SAIlINg ThROugh <strong>SYDNEY</strong> hEADS<br />

AND TOwARDS ThE hARBOuR BRIDgE AND <strong>SYDNEY</strong> OPERA hOuSE.<br />

Sydney has become the leading<br />

Australian cruise destination, with<br />

the number of ship visits growing by<br />

about 30 per cent in each of the last<br />

two years. Passenger cruise visits of<br />

199 in 2011/<strong>12</strong> compared to 153 the<br />

previous year and 119 in 2009/10.<br />

The cruise industry is now the fastest<br />

growing segment of the tourism<br />

market, with Australian passenger<br />

numbers increasing by 34 per cent<br />

in 2011.<br />

The growth in cruise visits has<br />

delivered fresh challenges to<br />

Sydney Ports in the provision of port<br />

infrastructure. This was highlighted<br />

when the Queen Mary 2, the largest<br />

liner ever to berth at the Overseas<br />

Passenger Terminal (OPT), arrived on<br />

7 March 20<strong>12</strong>. A special heavy-duty<br />

anchor was positioned in Campbell’s<br />

Cove, to ensure the 345 metre vessel<br />

was safely moored. Prior to these<br />

works the Queen Mary 2 was only<br />

able to berth at Garden Island. Being<br />

able to berth at the OPT saved the<br />

cruise line the significant cost of<br />

erecting temporary infrastructure<br />

and relocating passengers for<br />

arrivals processing.<br />

Sydney Ports is continuing to work<br />

closely with industry to provide the<br />

right infrastructure to support the<br />

growth in cruise visits. Our current<br />

infrastructure program has Sydney<br />

Ports investing significantly in cruise<br />

related improvements over the next<br />

three years. The program includes an<br />

upgrade for the OPT, designed to<br />

improve the terminal’s ability to berth<br />

larger ships and help manage the<br />

expected increase in passenger<br />

numbers. An OPT Master Plan<br />

was well underway by the end of<br />

the year, following consultation<br />

with stakeholders.<br />

A new passenger cruise terminal at<br />

White Bay will replace the temporary<br />

terminal at Barangaroo. Work began<br />

on the new terminal buildings in<br />

December 2011 and construction is<br />

due to be completed in early 2013.<br />

Sydney Ports has also appointed<br />

a Cruise Operations Manager and<br />

provides a site representative for<br />

every cruise ship visit, ensuring that<br />

operations are properly coordinated<br />

and run smoothly.<br />

A growing number of cruise vessels<br />

are unable to pass under the Sydney<br />

Harbour Bridge. Sydney Ports is<br />

continuing to lobby government for<br />

additional berth and terminal facilities<br />

east of the bridge, including Garden<br />

Island. In February 20<strong>12</strong>, the “Hawke<br />

Review” reported that cruise ships<br />

were incompatible with the Navy’s<br />

operations at Garden Island.<br />

In May 20<strong>12</strong>, the State Government<br />

announced a new pricing regime for<br />

the Sydney Ports Cruise Terminals.<br />

The fee was last increased in 1992.<br />

The new pricing regime will allow<br />

Sydney Ports to generate a return<br />

on our assets while supporting the<br />

growth in cruise shipping.<br />

Sydney PortS iS<br />

ContinUing to work<br />

CLoSeLy with indUStry<br />

to Provide the right<br />

infraStrUCtUre to<br />

SUPPort the growth<br />

in CrUiSe viSitS.<br />

Sydney PortS CorPoration annUaL rePort 2011/<strong>12</strong> 27

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