WATCH: Construction is underway to upgrade Victoria’s cruise ship terminal, which is Canada’s busiest port of call. The $6.8-million expansion will accommodate larger ships and mean more passengers — and a bigger economic benefit. But as Tess van Straaten tells us, there are also concerns.
Victoria is planning to welcome its eight millionth cruise ship passenger next spring in what will be the busiest cruise ship season yet and it’s only going to get bigger.
More than $6.8 million in joint funding is going toward at dolphin extension project at the Ogden Point Cruise Terminal. The project will extend the dolphin, a structure used to moor large ships, at Pier B by more than 55 metres. Two breasting dolphins on each side of the main pier structure to accommodate larger vessels.
“This project is about tourism. It’s about generating jobs here locally and it’s about driving the economy,” Marco Mendicino, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, said.
The federal government is contributing $1.9 million toward the project while the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is committing $4.9 million.
The harbour authority is predicting the resulting increase in passenger traffic could bring up to $160 million to the local economy in the few years after completion.
“In 2018 we welcomed 250 cruise ship calls to Victoria. In 2019, we’re expecting 265. Many of those ships will be larger. This year we welcomed the Norwegian Bliss and next year her sister ship, the Norwegian Joy, will be coming,” Sonterra Ross, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority CEO, said.
And next year, the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, by Royal Caribbean, will trump the Norwegian Bliss in size and capacity, bringing in 5,000 guests and 2,000 crew members.
The current dolphin structure, built in 2010, is 70 metres out from the pier. The extension will bring the structure to 125 metres.
A dolphin is being extended at Ogden Point.
CHEK News
