North West and Canada Cruise Association

Long-anticipated terminal officially open for business ahead of cruise ship season

Nanaimo officially became a cruise ship destination on Friday.

With the varnish still drying on wood features and panelling, about 150 guests oohed and awed at the architecture of the 13,775-square-foot visitors centre that at the foot of Nanaimo's new cruise ship facility.

The dock for ships up to 1,050 feet long was officially blessed by members of Snuneymuxw First Nation and lauded by federal, provincial and local dignitaries, in advance of its first use today.

The facility is so new, contractors have yet to finish landscaping and installation of a water feature that will create a point of interest outside the floor-to-ceiling glass front of the building that takes full advantage of the view of the Nanaimo harbour, set against the backdrop of Duke Point. The facility took years of lobbying for government funding, followed by months of planning, consulting with the community and 10 months of construction. Everyone at Friday's invitation-only event was impressed.

"I'm very pleased to see this come to fruition," said Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney. He said while accomplishing a federal government object of creating employment, it helps with economic diversification.

"I think when people see the first ship in here they are going to catch the vision."

Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog was equally impressed.

"I hope and believe it's going to be a positive economic driver," Krog said. "Tourism can be a huge generator for our community."

The facility opens amid a downturn in the Alaska cruise industry. Only four ships are expected to dock this year. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, said Mayor John Ruttan.

"There is an advantage to starting when you're slower," Ruttan said. "Maybe with it coming in slowly and building up, we'll be ready when more passengers come ashore."

The facility has a 350-foot floating dock capable of berthing the largest of cruise vessels on the northeast corner of the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf terminal.

There is a customs office. The Port of Nanaimo's administration office will relocate there this summer. Improved access, new roadways, ample parking, and a pickup and drop-off for coaches are included.

The facility cost $24 million. The cost was shared between the federal and provincial governments, which each put in

$8.5 million and the port authority, which made up the other $7 million. The port estimates its regional economic impact at $170,000 to $200,000 per large cruise ship call.

During construction the project generated approximately 170,000 hours of employment. Local workers were used whenever possible. Nanaimo has been a cruise destination since 2002 with large vessels tendering passengers to shore. More than 110,000 cruise passengers have visited Nanaimo to date.

This year, four large cruise ships will bring 8,500 passengers to the city. The Port projects that will grow to 25 to 30 ships per year over the next five years.

The facility will handle the largest vessels visiting the west coast and will be the only facility in the Pacific Northwest large enough to handle the 'super' cruise ships that can traverse the expanded Panama Canal after 2014.

Gone are the small tenders used in the past to ferry passengers back and forth.

The Norwegian Pearl becomes the first vessel to use the facility today.

2011 CRUISE-SHIP SEASON

Four large vessels are confirmed to visit Nanaimo's new terminal in 2011:

Norwegian Pearl' May 7 'Celebrity Century', May 20

Celebrity Millennium', Sept. 10

Norwegian Star', Sept. 25

Division of cost for the $24M Nanaimo terminal project:

• Senior government: $18.5M

• Federal government: $8.5M

• B.C. government: $5M

• Island Coast Economic Trust: $3.5M

• Nanaimo Port Authority: $7M

Subscribe to News RSS

Subscribe to Cruise Briefs