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Port Welcomes First Cruise Ship of the 2009 Season
April 23, 2009
The 2009 cruise season will be a busy one for Vancouver, with 35 vessels making a total of 253 calls, bringing approximately 875,000 passengers to the city through the Port’s Canada Place and Ballantyne cruise terminals. This is an increase from the 855,000 cruise passengers that came through the Port in 2008.
“We are very much looking forward to a strong and successful 2009 season,” said Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer of Port Metro Vancouver. “The outlook for this year is quite positive, and in consideration of current economic conditions that affect the cruise business, we will be working with our industry partners to enhance our competitive position going forward.”
2009 will also mark the introduction of shore power at the Canada Place terminal. This will be the first use of shore power in Canada, and only the third installation of its type in the world. This environmentally innovative technology allows cruise ships that have been adapted for its use to completely shut down their engines and connect to shore-based electrical power while docked, saving tonnes of fuel and reducing marine diesel and greenhouse gas emissions. Shore power will be operational for the 2009 cruise season, and there will be approximately 60 vessel calls utilizing the system.
Improvements planned for this season to increase efficiencies and enhance the passenger experience at Vancouver’s cruise terminals include better access to Vancouver-area tours and attractions and improved bus and taxi service. In addition, the planned opening of the Canada Line rail-based rapid transit service to Vancouver International Airport is scheduled for later in the season.
Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s largest and North America’s most diversified port, trading $75 billion in goods with more than 130 trading economies annually. Each cruise ship that docks in Vancouver contributes approximately $2 million to the local economy.