"Pier" pressure - Garden Island & cruise ships

[Sandielle]

I have no comment for or against this - I'm posting it simply as an item of interest.

 

From The Telegraph, today.

 

Pier pressure to enlist the navy's help as cruise ships set to invade Sydney Harbour

 

THE navy will be forced to share its Garden Island wharf with large international cruise ships - such as the 345m-long, 151,000-tonne Queen Mary 2 - under a radical plan for the nation's premier naval base.

 

Sydney is fast becoming the cruise ship capital of the world with 33 liners, including some of the ocean's biggest, berthing in the harbour during February. By 2020 the industry will be worth $1.1 billion to NSW.

 

Full story here:

 

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/pier-pressure-to-enlist-the-navys-help-as-cruise-ships-set-to-invade-sydney-harbour/story-e6freuzi-1226299750504

[thied]

By 2015, almost half of all passenger liners visiting Sydney will be too big to sail under the Harbour Bridge.

 

At present, the largest vessels tie up at the only commercial berth east of the bridge - the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay - or at Garden Island on an ad hoc basis.

 

Passengers on ships that currently dock at Garden Island cannot disembark directly to shore because of security issues. Instead, they must board tender vessels for the short trip to land.

 

The navy has granted access to Queen Mary 2 since 2007, but has told operators it will not accommodate any other ships and will cease the arrangement with the Queen Mary 2 after 2013.

 

A fresh review of the facility by former top bureaucrat Allan Hawke will recommend the government direct the navy to permanently share the wharf, which dates back to 1856, during the peak October to March cruise season.

 

Under the plan, the Sydney-based ships that cannot squeeze under the Harbour Bridge, such as 137,000-tonne, 311m-long Voyager of the Seas, will occupy the OPT, while smaller cruise ships, like the 223m, 47,000 tonne Pacific Sun, will berth at the King St Wharf. Eventually, a new terminal is planned to be constructed at White Bay on the Balmain Peninsula.

[diy dave]

Sounds like they,ve been reading our forum posts..LOL. Let the bumfight continue

[thied]

Sounds like they,ve been reading our forum posts..LOL. Let the bumfight continue

it looks that way :D

[tateyama]

By 2015, almost half of all passenger liners visiting Sydney will be too big to sail under the Harbour Bridge.

 

At present, the largest vessels tie up at the only commercial berth east of the bridge - the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay - or at Garden Island on an ad hoc basis.

 

Passengers on ships that currently dock at Garden Island cannot disembark directly to shore because of security issues. Instead, they must board tender vessels for the short trip to land.

 

The navy has granted access to Queen Mary 2 since 2007, but has told operators it will not accommodate any other ships and will cease the arrangement with the Queen Mary 2 after 2013.

 

A fresh review of the facility by former top bureaucrat Allan Hawke will recommend the government direct the navy to permanently share the wharf, which dates back to 1856, during the peak October to March cruise season.

 

Under the plan, the Sydney-based ships that cannot squeeze under the Harbour Bridge, such as 137,000-tonne, 311m-long Voyager of the Seas, will occupy the OPT, while smaller cruise ships, like the 223m, 47,000 tonne Pacific Sun, will berth at the King St Wharf. Eventually, a new terminal is planned to be constructed at White Bay on the Balmain Peninsula.

 

 

SOURCE ??? for this cut and past that you have plagiarized

[thied]

SOURCE ??? for this cut and past that you have plagiarized

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1226299750504

 

the same as sandie

[Brossy]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1226299750504

 

Your link does not exist.

[thied]

Your link does not exist.

here you go link to the same site

my link

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/pier-pressure-to-enlist-the-navys-help-as-cruise-ships-set-to-invade-sydney-harbour/story-e6freuzi-1226299750504

 

 

sandie link

 

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1226299750504

[tateyama]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/new...-1226299750504

 

the same as sandie

 

What was the point of your cut and paste when anyone could just click on the link Sandie had provided, and read the complete article.

 

As usual, just put up anything to increasing your count were you.

[Australian family]

They will have to think about making the "coat hanger" a draw bridge, for the larger ships to use the new terminal on the western side of the harbour bridge. :D:D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Sydney is fast becoming the cruise ship capital of the world (??????)with 33 liners, including some of the ocean's biggest, berthing in the harbour during February. By 2020 the industry will be worth $1.1 billion to NSW.

 

 

Who on earth writes this rubbish?

Who allows it to be published?

[bazzaw]

Who on earth writes this rubbish?

Who allows it to be published?

 

The wording of this article including the use of the word "will" indicates that this is a done deal. It is merely conjecture based on an unpublished review.

 

I am fairly certain that berthing huge vessels like QM2 in Circular Quay will soon become unpopular amongst Sydney residents - and it's arrangement with Garden Island Dockyard expires in the not too distant future. I predict that there will, in the future, be less berthings of cruiseships in GI, rather than more!- especially once these new LHD's arrive.

 

Barry

[MMDown Under]

'By 2020 the industry will be worth $1.1 billion to NSW.'

 

I always wonder how they arrive at their future financial projections. Guess it is not a core promise! :)

[The_Big_M]

Who on earth writes this rubbish?

Who allows it to be published?

 

It's not appearing in the Telegraph unless it's sensational...

[diy dave]

It's not appearing in the Telegraph unless it's sensational...

 

That's why I stopped buying the telegraph years ago, they take poetic license too far. But, I don't see any harm in using the quote icon and pasting an excerpt from a source, even if it's inaccurate, so maybe I'm just as bad.

[Sandielle]

That's why I stopped buying the telegraph years ago, they take poetic license too far. But, I don't see any harm in using the quote icon and pasting an excerpt from a source, even if it's inaccurate, so maybe I'm just as bad.

 

LOL, I think most papers are guilty of this! :D I believe only half of what I read. In some cases I believe nothing! :D

 

As I stated, I posted it purely as a matter of interest.

[Sutho]

Tha navy's idea of security is a joke and not letting the passengers disembark directly to dockside is just plain ridiculous and probably a rule made out of spite to cause the ships to reconsider wanting to dock there. No matter what the government directs there will always be some commander in the Navy not happy about it and impose certain conditions that make sharing unreasonable. I honestly dont know how the navy can cite security as an issue when they still employ those incompetent serco security guards to patrol and police the base. Base security used to be done by the navy and I believe they were allot happier as it gave navy personnell shore jobs in rotation of being at sea. Anyownder these days they have a retention problem with family orientated members.

 

I think the only alternative for Sydney is a cruise terminal at Botany Bay. It is the only realistic and workable alternative. There is lots of dock space, its a secure area and customs know the area well. It has good views and close access to the city and airport.

 

We need to look at the rest of the world on my recent Arcadia crusie we docked in Shanghai and Xingang in China and both these ports had a dedicated cruise terminal newly built in the middle of working container ports. Singapore you dock directly in a container port and have a shuttle service. Japan has dedicated cruise terminals. My opinion is that Botany Bay is the best option and it should not be discounted because it is a container port. The rest of the world shares their container ports with cruise ships. Botany Bay is the only answer to Sydneys cruise problem.

[diy dave]

I agree with some of your sentiment Sutho, one of my sons is a serving pussar with 24 years service and I personally have been to GI recently to meet the navy's newest acquisition. I can't agree with your criticism of the security guards, but I do agree that a proper duel purpose passenger/navy facility is very doable and any security problems could easily be handled.the top brass don't like change, but I suspect you know that.

[Sutho]

I agree with some of your sentiment Sutho, one of my sons is a serving pussar with 24 years service and I personally have been to GI recently to meet the navy's newest acquisition. I can't agree with your criticism of the security guards, but I do agree that a proper duel purpose passenger/navy facility is very doable and any security problems could easily be handled.the top brass don't like change, but I suspect you know that.

 

I know only too well they do not like change. When I joined way back in 1999 there was a major change going on pretty much putting the sailors to sea and removing land positions. All base security, hospitality (cooking) etc was handed over to serco. It upset allot of people as standards dropped. The impression I got was that at that time the defence wanted security handled by their own. It also caused problems as they were having a retention problem and there were married sailors who loved the opportunity of a shore based job opposed to being at sea.

 

With the security issue it can be handled because they have had crowds in Garden Island for all the Navy Open Days, US aircraft carrier visits, fleet visits. There have been plenty of public open days.

 

The navy does not like change and the security issues are just out of spite. To be honest I am not sure why the Navy has not adopted a cunning plan of offering to share the wharf but also asking for funding for a terminal being built capable of handling their new ships as well as cruise ships. I am sure the Navy would love some custom built shelter on the wharf so they can supply their large ships etc. The new Canberra class may need some specialised docking facilities and its the perfect opportunity and justification to ask for more funding on the issue of improving the wharf.

[The_Big_M]

With the security issue it can be handled because they have had crowds in Garden Island for all the Navy Open Days, US aircraft carrier visits, fleet visits. There have been plenty of public open days.

 

Yes and no. The issue is their perception of the security threat has changed, as well as new procedures such as OH&S, so things are not possible that used to be.

 

I remember, and enjoyed, going on fleet visits and being able to wander through Garden Island uncontrolled e.g. past dry dock. Now the public don't even have access to these areas and other areas that they do have access to i.e. the external wharf are much more controlled.

 

This isn't specific to us though, similar restrictions are applied elsewhere and other countries.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Tha navy's idea of security is a joke and not letting the passengers disembark directly to dockside is just plain ridiculous and probably a rule made out of spite to cause the ships to reconsider wanting to dock there.

 

I know you are well wide of the mark there Southo. Thats just a ridiculous statement.

We were on QM 2 when she overnighted last season at Garden Island.

We assembled at Glebe Island and were taken to the ship by catamaran, but that was beacause QE was also in port at the OPT. Once at the ship we boarded via a pontoon and were processed in the Queens Room ballroom. After that we we were free to come and go from QM2 at the Garden Island wharf and I was very impressed with the security. Obviously we did not go anywhere near the Navy part. You may not know the area but there is a long narrow wharf there that they they set up and it all worked very well indeed.

It was a shame we did not know this beforehand as we could have arranged to meet friends shoreside, but we had heard rumours , similar to ones that you are spreading , and did not think we could leave the ship at all.

 

 

[bazzaw]

It's probably not even an issue of security - but rather safety. Many dockyards around the World where cruiseships berth require all passengers to be shuttled to the outside of the dockyard- for obvious safety reasons.

 

GI is simply not big enough itself to cater for the Naval Fleet AND an increasing number of cruiseships.

 

Barry

[Sutho]

I think the whole security issue at that base is a major joke with what they have those guards do. Example - when QM2 is in they prevent members of the public taking photos in the immediate vicinity of the main gate or anywhere that they can see and get access to. HOWEVER anyone is able to freely take photos from the botanic garden side and apartment side as well as across the road from the main gate with a telephoto lens. With the advances in photography these days people can get all the photos they need without being seen from great distance. My point is that these security guards running around preventing the innocent tourists from taking photos are neglecting their real duties of protecting the base as they are distracted by a menial task that is of insignificant importance.

 

The other ridiculous thing is the embarkation by tender. Of course check in has to be done at a dedicated facility which Garden Island lacks, however what is wrong with coaches instead of a ferry and using the ships main gangway.

 

What the military fail to understand is by sharing facilities it means money for upgrades that they would not normally get. I am sure if upgraded docking facilities and shelter were build at Garden Island it would be of great benefit to the Navy and the golden opportunity of getting funding for it is to share. The same goes for all the RAAF bases that share with civillian flights. A sharing system should bring in money for upgrades and facilities that serve both parties.

 

I am for sharing the dock, but I do think the Navy should get complete control over the arrangement and have the power to decide to allow or deny a ship to dock based on requirements at the time.

[bazzaw]

however what is wrong with coaches instead of a ferry and using the ships main gangway.

 

 

Nah!! - much more fun being delivered by catamaran and greeted by stewards wearing white gloves :)

 

 

 

Barry

[diy dave]

All I can say about cameras and security is that there were no restrictions in December when HMAS Choules pulled in . There were more cameras there than at Harvey Normans. Onboard and ashore.