Cork port seeks to expand terminal in Cobh to cater for very large liners

The Port of Cork is looking at expanding its cruise line terminal facilities in Cobh to accommodate much larger ships capable of carrying 5,000 passengers.

The port authorities are meanwhile “pushing the boat out” to get more cruise liners to visit the region and have just entered a marketing alliance with 18 other ports in Western Europe to attain this.

Port of Cork commercial manager Michael McCarthy is in Hamburg where Cork has just been accepted into the Atlantic Alliance, which is made up of ports between Hamburg and Lisbon, including Britain and now an Irish port.

They are lobbying cruise companies to use these Northern and Western European destinations as an attractive alternative to the Mediterranean and Baltic.

“Cork is home to some of Ireland’s most famous tourist attractions such as Blarney Castle and Jameson Whiskey Distillery and also serves as a convenient gateway for visiting the many picturesque towns and sights of West Cork, Waterford, and Killarney. We are delighted to be joining Atlantic Alliance in promoting Cork as a ‘must see’ destination on Ireland’s south coast,” said Capt McCarthy.

Bantry-based Cllr Mary Hegarty is also in Hamburg where she is attempting to sell her hometown as a destination.

A major drive is on to get more cruise ships to call to Bantry and to provide onshore excursions for their passengers in West Cork.

This follows a meeting in the Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery, during the summer at which 80 West Cork tourism businesses came together with Cork County Council to formulate a marketing drive aimed at cruise line companies.

The port welcomed 61 cruise vessels carrying more than 100,000 passengers this season, which is nearly double the figure achieved in 2005.

Capt McCarthy said the Port of Cork has ambitions to grow the number of cruise calls to 80 over the next five years and to increase repeat calls and overnight stays.

He said this may have to entail enlarging facilities at the deep water quay in Cobh.

“Under our strategic [growth] plan for overall facilities within the port, we are looking at the cruise liner berth in Cobh.

“The next generation of Royal Caribbean ‘Quantum’ class ships will be much larger than the present ones and capable of carrying up to 5,000 passengers, so we will have to ensure that we can handle such vessels.”