Carnival Australia has reacted to Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) draft recommendations, saying new facilities may be required as early as 2018 to meet burgeoning growth in Sydney’s cruise sector.
As Australia’s largest cruise operator, Carnival Australia said in a statement it was studying the IPART report and its proposal adding it “appears to be a complex two-tiered pricing mechanism for Sydney’s existing cruise terminals while noting that Sydney is already one of the most expensive ports in the world in terms of port charges”.
Carnival said it welcomed the report’s “strong commentary” on the need for appropriate port facilities in Sydney Harbour to address cruise industry growth and “its accompanying economic contribution and an increase in the number of cruise ships that will be too big to sail under the bridge.”
“Carnival Australia shares the concern that no provision appears to have been made for a new cruise terminal east of the Harbour Bridge and that a new facility might be needed as early as 2018 based on current cruise industry growth,” it said.
“As an interim measure, Carnival Australia has long advocated shared use of Garden Island by cruise ships to ensure Sydney can reach its full potential as Australia’s major cruising hub and gateway to visiting international ships.”
