Getting harbour shipshape

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - It is hoped work on deepening the Mossel Bay harbour so it can accommodate large cruise liners will start in 2026, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) noted this week.

For many years business people have urged that the harbour be deepened so large cargo and passenger vessels can dock.

Right now the passenger ships anchor in the bay and passengers are ferried to the harbour by small boats. In a presentation on the benefits of the cruise liner visits to Mossel Bay and surrounds, municipal town planning and economic development director Carel Venter noted: "The cruise season is from October

to April."

Planned visits

He said the number of liners scheduled to visit Mossel Bay this season was 20. The planned visits until the end of January were 14 but four ships cancelled visiting Mossel Bay. Venter said the main reasons given were poor weather and accompanied sea conditions.

He said whether the vessels stopped in the bay depended on the type of vessel and the ability of the ship or willingness of the captain to enter.

"Unfortunately they do cancel at short notice." On average the cruise liners carry 800 to 2 000 passengers

Most arrive early in the morning, stay overnight in the bay and leave again early the following day (24 hours).

Venter said the ships left Cape Town or Gqeberha to come to Mossel Bay.

There is a mix of foreigners and locals and the nationalities on board differ, depending on the ships and agencies.

The Norwegian Jade has visited Mossel Bay a few times this season. Photo: Julian Scholtz

Statistics

Venter gave some statistics on the cruise liner visits.

On average 750 passengers per ship go on shore at Mossel Bay. Of these 600 go on excursions around the Garden Route, with game reserves in the Mossel Bay area being one off the main attractions. Oudtshoorn and Knysna are also favoured destinations.

About 150 passengers stay in Mossel Bay, mainly in the town centre.

The possible direct boost to the Mossel Bay economy:

150 passengers x 20 ships = 3 000 passengers during a season
3 000 x R1 000 spent = R3 million per season

Boost for Garden Route

600 passengers who go on excursions in the Garden Route x 20 ships = 12 000 passengers
12 000 x R1 200 spent per passenger = R14,4 million per season.

A major plus for Mossel Bay is that it is a "port of entry to South Africa" for foreign passport holders.

Foreigners can enter South Africa via Mossel Bay. The Home Affairs Department has a passport control office in Mossel Bay for foreigners.

International vessels may enter Mossel Bay directly. They do not have to go to Cape Town or Durban first.

Acting chief operations officer of Mossel Bay Tourism Lieschke Steven-Jennings said according to local businesses and statistics, there was an economic growth of 20 to 30% compared to previous years and some businesses enjoyed an even larger increase in revenue of up to 50% over the festive season.

A contributing factor was the increase of cruise liners, she said.

TNPA expects the MSC Sinfonia on 11 February, 18 February and 4 March and the Island Sky on 10 April, weather permitting.

It noted the harbour had the capacity for a vessel with a draft of 6.5 metres inside the port.

Docked inside

Being a smaller passenger ship, Hanseatic Spirit was docked inside the port on 18 December.

Island Sky with a length overall of 90.6m and a draft of 4.25m will be able to dock inside the port at quay 4 on 10 April.

TNPA noted that according to its Port Development Framework Plan, it was looking at options of deepening quay 4, which will assist in accommodating larger vessels to support general cargo, oil and gas and cruise sectors.

"The project is in the concept and pre-feasibility study stage with the planned execution stage by 2026, subject to all approval processes."

The Seven Seas Voyager in the bay. The red boat is used to ferry passengers ashore shore. Photo: Julian Scholtz