Port of Cork Makes Way for Mega Cruise Ships

The Port of Cork will invest over EUR 1.5 million (USD 1.74m) in upgrading facilities at Cobh Cruise Terminal, Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth, with the installation of a number of high load mooring bollards at the east and west end of the Cobh Cruise Berth which will enable larger ships to be berthed.

The work which will commence before the end of January is expected to be completed by April 2015 in time to welcome the first cruise call on April 24. In total, 55 cruise liners are scheduled to call to Cork in 2015, 10 of which are maiden calls and 20 of which will be carrying in excess of 3,000 passengers.

Captain Michael McCarthy, Commercial Manager at the Port of Cork, said: ”The global trend in the cruise industry is changing from smaller, high end ships to large ‘mega ships’ such the ‘Quantum Class’ vessels which can carry in excess of 4,000 passengers. Attracting these ‘mega ships’ to Cobh would be a huge advantage, not only for the Port but for the entire Cork region. We know that the cruise industry is worth between EUr 13 and EUR 14 million annually to Cork alone so there are some major opportunities for the tourist industry to capitalise on this.”