Cruise liner loses berth to naval vessel

The five-star cruise liner R Six Blue Star has been relegated to a cargo quay so that its usual berth could be taken up by a naval vessel.

Local agents Mondial Ship Agency have protested to Viset, the consortium running the sea passenger terminal and the cruise ship passenger facilities, arguing that it was unacceptable to shift cruise liners aside in favour of warships, considering the relevance of tourism to the economy.

The liner, the agency said, was being forced to berth at Deep Water Quay Four, which was normally used by cargo ships, when she makes port today. This quay was shabby, dirty, out of the way and well below standards for tourist vessels, it said.

Mondial said in a statement the R Six Blue Star has been calling at Grand Harbour every Saturday since July and she normally berthed at Pinto Wharf Three, one of the three main quays used by cruise ships.

"This is unacceptable as tourism, a pillar of our economy, is being set aside in favour of warships!"

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said when contacted that visiting naval ships were also a source of income for the country.

According to its agreement with Viset, the government had the right to inform the consortium about the number of berths it would require for naval ships and the consortium had to adjust accordingly.

The minister said it was not fair of one economic provider to assume that another economic activity could be killed.

Charles Mizzi, Viset terminal manager, said when contacted that seven naval vessels were coming to Malta and they had to be accommodated.

According to its contract with the government, Mr Mizzi said, Viset had to provide a number of berths for naval vessels each year.

Asked why the naval ships were not being berthed at the Deep Water Quay for the liner to retain its usual berth, Mr Mizzi said there were several factors to be taken into consideration as to where a ship could or could not berth.

He pointed out that there had been instances where there were no visiting warships but liners' berthing places had had to be changed due to traffic.

Mondial said Pullmantur Cruises of Spain, operators of R Six Blue Star, brought to Malta about 55,000 passengers last year and were expected to increase their figures this year. On being told that their ship's berth had been taken up by naval ships, Pullmantur protested strongly and said they were considering taking further measures.

"This is all the more serious because the authorities are very much aware that figures for cruise liner calls for 2004 are expected to drop by at least 25 per cent, meaning a minimum loss of over 100,000 passengers over the figures for 2003!"

Pullmantur have for the past two years been by far Valletta's top customers so far as cruise line passengers are concerned, Mondial said.