4 February 2011

Cruise industry drives nautical surveying demand

Double-digit growth in the number of cruise liners visiting New Zealand each year has the National Hydrographic Authority busy developing a comprehensive nautical surveying and charting programme.

This year, 34 cruise ships will visit New Zealand carrying 138,200 passengers on 96 cruises – a 19 percent increase in cruises and a 26 percent increase in passenger numbers over the previous year.

Cruise ship passengers visiting New Zealand ports this year are expected to contibute more than $305 million to the national economy.

According to Carnival Australia, part of the world’s largest cruise holiday company, the industry has grown strongly year-on-year since 1996, when just 19,400 passengers completed 27 cruises around New Zealand waters.

Mike Drake, Director Marine Operations for Carnival Australia, says over that the past 15 years, the industry has recorded average annual growth of 14 percent. In the 2011/12 cruise season, 29 cruise ships visiting New Zealand are expected to carry almost 200,000 passengers and 80,800 crews, undertaking 124 cruises.

“Australia and New Zealand are currently Carnival Corporation’s fastest-growing cruise market,” says Mike. “Passengers are wanting to visit pristine, unspoilt environments with cultural interest, and New Zealand and the south-west Pacific are areas that meet those demands.”

The average cruise length is 10 days, and those with multiple port stops are the most popular. For Carnival passengers, Bay of Plenty and Akaroa are the most popular New Zealand stops. P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises, part of the Carnival Corporation, will visit Wellington 38 times this year.

Mike says while the waters around New Zealand are sufficiently charted, some of the areas Carnival wants to cruise in – such as some areas around Tonga – are away from main shipping lanes, and not necessarily safe for navigation by such large vessels. “Paper charts exist, but are not sufficiently detailed to meet our needs.”

Surveying and charting for safe navigation

Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is the national hydrographic authority, responsible for surveying and charting New Zealand waters and certain areas of Antartica and the south-west Pacific. The total area of ocean LINZ is responsible for stretches as far north as Tokelau and the northern Cook Islands – an area 23 times the size of New Zealand.

LINZ undertakes surveys every year to continually improve the hydrographic information it holds, as well as producing official nautical charts to aid safe navigation.

Charts are available in a range of formats: paper charts, digital images that may be printed or viewed onscreen, and electronic navigational charts (ENCs) designed for use in electronic navigation systems.

Nicole Botherway, Manager Hydrography, says growth in the cruise industry is helping drive demand for more areas to be surveyed using modern technologies to meet modern shipping needs, and to produce more modern charts, such as ENCs.

Technology now allows for full searches of the seafloor, whereas many paper charts were compiled through samples alone. These more modern charts are good for many decades.

“With these increasingly larger vessels, carrying more passengers, the waters they are cruising in must be properly charted to ensure not only safety at sea but the preservation of marine environments,” says Nicole.

LINZ recently hosted Carnival Australia, in an effort to understand more about areas of future cruise demand, and how LINZ can help.

“The hydrographic surveying programme is set to 2012, and we are now prioritising the survey programme post-2012 when LINZ moves to a fully contestible environment,” says Nicole. “Understanding cruise operators’ needs can drive the way we set our survey programme.”

Ninety percent of New Zealand’s trade is carried by sea, and all New Zealand ports are now covered by ENCs. In 2007/08, Akaroa Harbour, Abel Tasman, and Milford, Doubtful, Thompson, Dusky and Breaksea Sounds were surveyed – all areas hugely popular with cruise ship operators.

Nicole says the impact of the cruise industry can’t be underestimated. “Cruise liners are growing in size, carrying more passengers, and generating more economic benefits for New Zealand every year.

“Working with the industry to produce charts that allow for safe navigation helps protect New Zealand’s image as a premier cruising destination.”

ENDS

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