Australia’s largest operator, Carnival Australia, and Tourism and Transport Forum are calling for the urgent dredging of Trinity Inlet, according to cairns.com.
They say Cairns is losing millions of dollars in passenger spending because bigger ships cannot dock at the port.
The Liberal National Party pledged $40 million for dredging during the state election campaign but is now awaiting a report commissioned by Ports North into cruise shipping, including the dredging.
TTF transport manager Trent Zimmerman said 85 per cent of new cruise ships were “very large” and were unable to dock at the Port of Cairns because of limitations of the shipping channel.
“ Dredging to allow the larger ships will have enormous benefits immediately to the struggling tourism economy in Cairns,” Mr Zimmerman said.
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Dredging Today Staff, May 4, 2012;