Vancouver: Last cruise ship of 2017 departs Canada Place today
The final cruise ship set to sail during the 2017 season will depart from Vancouver tomorrow (Dec. 16), marking the end of the 31st consecutive cruise season at Canada Place terminal at the Port of Vancouver.
In 2017, Vancouver welcomed almost 843,000 cruise passengers on 236 vessel visits, reflecting a two per cent increase in passenger volumes over 2016.
“As a top global destination, Vancouver continues to attract a wide spectrum of cruise lines and passengers from around the world and has increasingly become the homeport of choice for Alaska-bound cruises,” said Peter Xotta, vice president of planning and operations at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
The Star Princess, which was homeported in Vancouver during the Alaska season, was the first ship to kick off the 2017 season and is also the last, having called on Canada Place 17 times this year. The vessel is scheduled to depart at 16:30 tomorrow afternoon, heading down the Pacific coast to Los Angeles, making this one of the longest Vancouver cruise seasons on record. Princess Cruises welcomed more than 200,000 passengers aboard its ships at Canada Place in 2017.
Cruise is a critical economic driver for the region. Each cruise ship brings an average of $3 million to the local economy. The 2016 cruise season generated 12,000 jobs, $549 million in total wages, and contributed $840 million to national GDP demonstrating the significant impact generated by the Vancouver cruise business.
Economic impact of the cruise business is typically derived from three sources: spending by cruise lines, passengers and crew. Cruise line spending typically accounts for 60 per cent of the total spending.
Part of that contribution includes work such as the upgrades that were made to the Star Princess by Seaspan Shipyards, before the ship moves to its winter market. Through to 2020, the company has booked several cruise vessels which will provide employment opportunities for Canadian tradespeople and ship repair professionals at its Victoria Shipyards.
”Seaspan Shipyards’ successful completion of work on the Star Princess demonstrates the capabilities of Canada’s shipbuilding and marine industries. Our company is proud to support the cruise industry while providing highly-skilled jobs for Canadians. We anticipate that this will remain an important part of our business in the years to come,” said Brian Carter, President & CEO of Seaspan Shipyards.
Drydock contracts generate an important contribution to the economy through direct spending and job creation. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2016 Economic Impact Report, cruise lines spent a combined $54 million on vessel maintenance and equipment with B.C. shipyards and equipment manufacturers in 2016.
The 2018 cruise ship season kicks off on Tuesday, April 10, 2018.
(Vancouver Fraser Port Authority)
