Catering for a new generation of cruise liners capable of carrying more than 5,000 passengers is “essential” for the Highlands’ largest port, it was claimed yesterday.
The comment was made by Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive, Bob Buskie, who recently unveiled plans for a £25million upgrade of cruise ship facilities at Invergordon.
It came as new figures showed the Easter Ross harbour welcomed more liner passengers than any other Scottish port this year from 63 visiting vessels.
During the spring-autumn 2016 cruise season 97,993 passengers came to Invergordon, representing almost one fifth of the 484,847 total across Scotland’s ports. The figure was 9% up on the previous year and, according to the port, shows a 134% increase over the past decade.
The continuing growth of the liner business was recently highlighted as one of the positives for the Port of Cromarty Firth, which has been hit by the oil and gas downturn and saw its pre-tax profits fall by £1.4million in 2015, compared to the previous year.
Ambitious plans to build the business at Invergordon include the development of a new liner berth and associated passenger facilities.
Yesterday, Mr Buskie said: “There are 73 new cruise liners currently being built throughout the world, many of which will accommodate more than 5,000 passengers.
“The Port of Cromarty Firth is one of only three ports in Scotland that can accommodate ships of this size and, with more of them being built, it is essential for us to be able to receive them.
“Our investment and development plans will allow the port to continue to introduce more people to the beauty and history of the Highlands.”
The Port of Cromarty Firth said direct spend by liner passengers locally and across the Highlands in 2016 amounted to almost £10m.
During the year Invergordon welcomed its 1,000th cruise liner, Holland-America Line’s new MS Koningsdam, as well as two calls from the Disney Cruise Line, as part of their new round-Britain cruise.
Captain Iain Dunderdale, cruise development manager at the port’s marketing company Cruise Highlands Ltd, said: “Being the port with the highest number of passengers in Scotland in 2016 is a fabulous achievement and rounds off a remarkable year.”
He added: “Worldwide, the cruise sector is the fastest growing area of travel and, for the tourist industry in the Highlands to continue to thrive, it is essential that ports like Invergordon are ready to welcome them.
“We are working with tour operators and tourist destinations to ensure that visitors to the Highlands have the best possible experience.”
Earlier this year the Port of Cromarty Firth announced it was ending its joint-venture arrangement in Cruise Highlands with Tain-based firm Bannermans, owners of Invergordon’s Admiralty Pier, and going it alone with the company.
Marketing body Cruise Scotland recently said 2017 is on course to be another record year, with 808 vessels already booked to call at Scottish ports, surpassing this year’s total by nearly 20%.
