Americas News
CLIA: Growth in Alaska Cruise Vessel Calls Not a Sign of Recovery
With the recent opening of the Alaska cruise season in Vancouver, Canada, Port Metro Vancouver says that for 2014 it expects a slight growth in vessel calls to 243, compared to 235 in 2013.
"This year's Alaska cruise season looks to be on par with a strong season last year as we expect to welcome about 812,000 passengers on 243 calls by 29 cruise ships," said Katherine Bamford, Director, Trade Development, Port Metro Vancouver.
"In 2013 Port Metro Vancouver welcomed 812,398 passengers on 235 calls by 29 cruise ships, which was a 22 per cent increase in passengers over 2012."
Cruise industry players and government officials have previously warned that the cost of compliance with North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) regulations could impact on the competitiveness of North American cruise itineraries which, like Alaska, operate fully within the ECA zone.
Greg Wirtz, President, North West & Canada for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), welcomed the news for Vancouver, but says the figures should be taken in context of the Alaska market as a whole.
"Passenger numbers for Alaska have been largely flat overall and the increase in vessel calls reported by Port Metro Vancouver is more a reflection of cruise lines subbing ships for tactical reasons than actual market growth," Wirtz told Ship & Bunker.
One of the more substantial changes for Vancouver is Princess Cruises swapping out the 2600 passenger Diamond and Sapphire Princess for the Crown and the Pacific Princess.
The Pacific Princess, at 700 passengers, is one of the smallest of the Princess fleet, but it will be making twice the number of calls in Vancouver as it sails a round trip itinerary from the port this year.
The Cost of Compliance
The North American ECA came into effect on August 1, 2012, and effectively requires all ships operating within 200 nautical miles of the U.S. and Canada coastline to use a marine fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 1.0 percent by weight - a limit which on January 1, 2015 drops to 0.10 percent
Compliance with the rules requires either more expensive fuel to be used or investment in an equivalent method of compliance such as exhaust gas scrubbing technology, the costs of which are ultimately passed on to the passengers.
However Port Metro Vancouver noted that it's EcoAction program helped offset at least some of an operator's increased costs.
"The port offers incentives to reward vessel operators for their environmental choices," Bamford told Ship & Bunker.
"As part of Port Metro Vancouver's EcoAction Program, shipping lines can benefit from a discount of up to 47% on harbour dues by choosing a variety of eligible fuels, technology options, and environmental management practices.
"For example, cruise ships that are shore power enabled receive a harbour dues discount."
Wirtz noted that overall cruise passenger volume for the region has been in decline since before the ECA's introduction.
"For the 2008/2009 season there was in excess of 1 million Alaska passengers. In 2010 it dropped right off and has still not recovered to the 1 million passenger mark," he said.
