May

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2012 Cruise Ship Season Best Yet

May 2012

2012 Victoria, BC Cruise Ship Schedule

Photos by Josie Bannerman

Crystal Serenity docked in Victoria April 17, the first cruise ship of the 2012 season. Ogden Point will see 229 visits and 475,000 passengers over the summer - its biggest season yet. It is now Canada's busiest cruise port of call.
CS Wave Venture will call Victoria home for the next five years. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) recently signed a five-year agreement with Global Marine Systems Limited (GMSL) to berth the cable repair and installation vessel, as well as to provide warehouse storage for the fibre optic cable used to maintain submarine cable telecommunications. “This agreement supports our goal of maintaining Ogden Point as a viable marine industrial port,” said Curtis Grad, Chief Executive Officer of the GVHA. “This clean marine business supports year round activity at the site and complements the cruise activity during the summer months.”
A mooring dolphin that extends Pier B by 70 metres, makes it possible for larger cruise ships to dock safely at Ogden Point. This investment by federal and provincial governments, who partnered with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is expected to pay off in 2013 when a 315 metre ship carrying up to 2,850 passengers will visit. “The expanded pier is increasing tourism and providing a significant boost to British Columbia’s economy,” said Minister Moore, in town to underscore the importance of this recent infrastructure investment.
The Honorable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage & Official Languages and Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin are on hand to mark the beginning of the 2012 cruise ship season. Mayor Fortin presented an Ogden Point 2011 Eco Award to Princess Cruises. Princess ships docked at Ogden Point during 2011 burned fuel that was 1% sulphur content or better, well in advance of international regulations coming into effect August 1, 2012 that will require all large cruise ships, freighters and tankers to meet new North American Emission Control Area standards.
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