Regatta Cruise Ship To Bypass St George’s
The Regatta cruise ship will be bypassing St. George’s to berth in Dockyard due to predicted high winds, the Department of Marine & Ports said today [Oct 30].
The Regatta cruise ship — an occasional caller to Bermuda — was scheduled to dock at Pennos Wharf in St. George’s today carrying an estimated 709 passengers and 386 crew, in what would have marked the 5th, and last, cruise ship visit for the east end for this year.
Due to the change of schedule, the Sea Express Ferry Service will run additional services, including trips leaving Dockyard at 11.30am, 2.00pm, and 4.30pm, and trips leaving St. George at 1.00pm, 3.30pm, and 5.30pm.
There will also be trips between Hamilton and Dockyard, leaving Hamilton at 5.30pm, 6.30pm, and 7.30pm, arriving at Dockyard at 6.00pm, 7.00pm, and 8.00pm, and arriving at Hamilton at 6.20pm, 7.20pm, and 8.20pm, respectively. For all inquiries, please contact the Ferry Terminal on 295-4506.
The Regatta docked in St George’s in 2012
The east end generally does not have many cruise ship visits as the larger ships cannot navigate though the area. This year’s cruise ship schedule [PDF] listed a total of five scheduled visits for St. George’s; four in April and this visit by the Regatta, making the fifth.
Government has previously said that ships more than 680’ long and 94’ wide, depending on handling characteristics, generally cannot safely navigate through Town Cut in St. George’s.
“The analysis revealed there are 165 cruise ships currently in operation that are available to serve the North American and European markets. Of that total, 139 are too large to transit Town Cut in St. George’s, leaving only 26 that can successfully transit Town Cut,” the Transport Ministry said back in 2011.
It is clear that getting a regular visitor to St George’s is not a political thing, but a business thing and that there are very few options. It is unfortunate that the OBA chose to politicize this in the lead up to the 2012 election, when really it seems irrelevant who is in power.
Wonder what the feasibility is of building a cruise pier (in collaboration with the various cruise lines) off Ferry Reach. The summer months the north shore is usually fairly calm and no more exposed than the piers at Dockyard.
So sorry for the businesses of St Georges. Bet they had themselves all buffed up & ready. Windbag Brown didn’t get them this time. Mother Nature did.
Triangle Drifter ..FYI It was Dr. Brown who first proposed to widen town cut channel and was turned down by The Then town leaders and his quick thinking after been turned down by St George’s took that money and built at second pier in Dockyard and without his great thinking we would only have one mega cruise ship and a lot less government revenue.
To Micro what a lovely idea but you forgot to mention what it would cost to build infrastructures such as Buses being able to get out there,a Ferry stop, Street widen with side walks Electrical powered sent out there Custom building etc. By time you build all of that you would have to almost build a new town. Did you think of that, when you have all of the above and more in the town Of St George’s. Stop Playing games with St George’s And WIDEN TOWN CUT CHANNEL
there is no other choice, if St George’s wants a cruise ship, TOWN CUT CHANNEL MUST BE MODIFIELD.
Who paid who?
I’m so sorry for the passengers. I hope they will take the ferry to St. George’s. They will miss a beautiful part of the island if they don’t. Nothing like it.
I can not confirm but I think out of the four that ships scheduled to visit in April only one or two made it. Poor little town of St George. I hope next year is better.
Poor little town needs Fahy or whom ever else to make an execute decision and have the channel widened.
And the weather was so nice today