Channel access to Broome Port among reasons why Carnival leaves WA in 2018

Written on the 8 May 2017

WA's cruise ship industry is facing a crisis, with inadequate port infrastructure causing Australia's biggest ocean liner group to leave the State.

The West Australian can reveal the biggest liner group in Australian waters, Carnival Cruises, has told the State Government it will no longer use Fremantle as a home port because of the conditions and reliability of WA ports.

The decision means P&O superliners will no longer be based in Fremantle, putting at risk crew visits and regional cruise trips that had attracted thousands to WA over the past few years.

As a result, by the 2018-19 season, WA will lose dozens of cruises. The Government estimates the loss will result in a $130 million hole in the State's economy.

In 2016-17, 60 cruises were scheduled for the season, but by 2018-19 the Government expected just 17.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the previous government had ignored several pleas from Carnival Australia to improve several regional ports.

The West understands that among the concerns were ship access to the channel in Broome which limited time onshore, a lack of shore tension units in Geraldton, and, most urgently, reliable land side berthing or progress on a floating dock in Exmouth, where, because of port infrastructure, up to half of stops were missed in recent years.

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Source: thewest.com.au