Vancouver: After two decades of consecutive growth, Vancouver's cruise business is projected to decline in 2003. This year, the Port of Vancouver will welcome 33 ships from 16 cruise lines on an estimated 305 sailings. In 2002, Vancouver hosted 342 sailings and 1,125,252 revenue passengers.

"In addition to a changed travel industry, we are experiencing increasingly tough competition from the Port of Seattle and other U.S. ports," said Captain Gordon Houston, Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) President & CEO. "U.S. ports are actively funding infrastructure development that threatens both our cruise business and our cargo business, present and future."

Houston said the VPA is working on new cruise initiatives and calling for improvements to the Canada Marine Act to facilitate future investment.

"We believe the Port of Vancouver's cruise sector is one of the brightest opportunities for job creation and economic regeneration in BC today, but we cannot afford to take the cruise sector or other sectors for granted," Houston said. "We must overcome present-day challenges to prepare for future jobs and growth by advocating changes to the Canada Marine Act and by forging new initiatives."

The VPA is part of a consortium of coastal communities and ports that have come together to form the BC Ports and Destination Group (PDG). The PDG is developing a business and marketing strategy to help diversify and enhance the province's cruise industry by developing a 'made-in-BC' cruise vision.

Participants in the PDG initiative include the Campbell River Port of Call Partnership (District of Campbell River, Tourism North Central Island Campbell River Indian Band), the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, the Nanaimo Port Authority, the Prince Rupert Port Authority and the Vancouver Port Authority.

"There is no question that the cruise industry has potential," Houston said. "By 2020, we estimate the cruise sector alone could grow by as much as 80 per cent. But nothing is guaranteed and the competition we face is fierce."

The Port of Vancouver is 'homeport' to the Vancouver-Alaska cruise. According to an economic impact survey conducted by the North West CruiseShip Association, each Alaska-bound cruise ship that passes through the Port of Vancouver generates 14 local jobs and $1.5 million in local economic benefits.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most diversified port, trading more than $29 billion in goods with 90 trading economies each year. Port activities generate a total of 62,000 jobs and contribute $1.6 billion annually to Canada's GDP. Last year, 62.8 million tonnes of cargo were shipped through the Port of Vancouver.

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Following is this year's roster for the cruise season:

Holland America returns with seven vessels sailing Vancouver's waters with the Amsterdam, Maasdam, Ryndam, Statendam, Veendam, Volendam and Zaandam. A fleet of six vessels headline Princess Cruises' rotation with the Coral Princess, Dawn Princess, Island Princess, Pacific Princess, Star Princess and the Sun Princess. Royal Caribbean International returns with the Legend of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Vision of the Seas. Celebrity Cruises is deploying three ships this season: the Infinity, the Mercury and the Summit. Carnival Cruises is deploying one vessel, the Carnival Spirit. Norwegian Cruise Lines returns again this year with the Norwegian Sky, the Norwegian Sun and the Norwegian Wind. Radisson Seven Seas returns with the Seven Seas Mariner. American West Steamboat Co. arrives this year with the Empress of the North. Cruise West is bringing back the Spirit of Oceanus. Crystal Cruises returns with the Crystal Harmony. Hapag-Lloyd arrives with the Europa. Japan Cruise Line is deploying the Pacific Venus. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines returns with the Nippon Maru. Peace Boat Cruise Line arrives with the Topaz. ResidenSea visits the Port of Vancouver for the first time with the World. World Explorer returns with its Universe Explorer.

For more information, please contact:

Anne McMullin,
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
Vancouver Port Authority
(604) 665-9069 (office)
(604) 665-9073 (fax)
(604) 218-1403 (cellular)
anne.mcmullin@portvancouver.com

For more information:
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Or, send an email to:
public_affairs@portvancouver.com