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Maine sees faster clearance rules, new shipsSeatrade Insider • May 06, 2009Improvements to ease waterfront congestion in Bar Harbor, a new approach by Customs and Border Protection that will expedite ship clearance, growth in Portland, the first big ship in Rockland and several maiden calls are among Maine's highlights this season. In addition, efforts continue to find effective ways to ensure ships steer clear of the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The state's dozen cruise ports expect a total of 232,000 passengers on 274 calls, compared to 209,000 passengers and 281 calls last year. Bar Harbor again leads the way, with 144,000 passengers on 93 calls. Portland follows, with nearly 71,000 passengers on 38 calls. Both ports are showing hefty increases. Bar Harbor is implementing measures to ease passenger flow at the pier's entry/exit points and, in 2010, will change from the two ships per day limit to an allowable passengers per day structure. The plan presents a balanced approach by capping passenger numbers at different levels depending on the season but also enables more calls by small ships in a single day. Since the state's ports are often the first point of entry to the US for ships arriving from Canada, all passengers previously had to undergo inspection formalities. At a tender port like Bar Harbor, it was particularly time-consuming to board officials, and ship clearance could take up to 2.5 hours. 'We are elated that Region 1 Boston will allow our passengers in their closed-loop processing,' said Amy Powers, director of CruiseMaine. That means US citizens on round-trip voyages originating in the US will not have to undergo inspection. 'It's going to add hours to the passenger time in Bar Harbor and in Portland,' Powers told Seatrade Insider. New operators like Costa Cruises and MSC Cruises are coming to the region this year and next. In 2009, maiden calls include Queen Victoria, Costa Atlantica, Clelia II and Pearl Mist. Rockland is planning festivities for its first big-ship visit, Jewel of the Seas, on Oct. 4. 'We credit the work New York has done to improve their terminals so they have the slots and can work with lines like MSC and Costa. Before they didn't have room,' Powers said. 'The growth in New York has allowed these new companies to come into this market.' On sailings from Portland, new brand Pearl Seas Cruises is scheduled to visit Eastport, which Powers describes as 'the Icy Strait Point of the East,' citing its authenticity, fishing and canning legacies and a prominent native American population. Dialogue on how to protect the right whale from ship strikes continues. 'The focus is how we can help to sustain the whale population and still meet the needs of the traveling public,' Powers said. 'The cruise industry sees it as important to sustain the whales as part of the culture the passengers come to see.' However, drastically slower ship speeds likely means cutting ports, for cargo vessels as well as cruise, resulting in economic losses for Maine destinations
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The CruiseMaine Coalition in partnership with the Maine Port Authority and the communities of Bangor, Belfast, Boothbay Harbor, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, Camden, Eastport, Freeport, Kennebunk-Kennebunkport, Portland, Rockland and several Associate Members including Chase Leavitt & Co., Discover New England, Down East Magazine, FlyBangor, GetEtched, Maine & Co., Maine Office of Tourism, Maine Tourism Association, Maine Department of Transportation, Penobscot Bay & River Pilot’s Association, and the Washington County Commissioner’s Office works to promote these communities to the travel trade, travel media and cruise industry as attractive cruise destinations. We also provide the relative community and business support necessary for these areas to become and remain viable, productive cruise destinations while promoting cultural preservation and responsible tourism.
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