Cruise ship capacity limits lifted in the NT

Cruise ships are a step closer to setting sail from Territory waters again, after the chief health officer made a major call on the industry.

CRUISE ships could set sail back into Territory waters in coming weeks after restrictions around the $60m industry were lifted.

It’s the latest liferaft from the NT government to revive the Territory’s flagging tourism industry, and comes as Australia is throwing its doors open to international tourism for the first time in two years.

The NT News can reveal chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie has unanchored the passenger limit on cruise ships, easing it from 150 to 350 passengers and crew.

However, federal biosecurity laws will need to be changed before the industry can fully restart.

The cruise ship industry was worth $60m to the Territory economy each year prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Natasha Fyles said the eased restrictions would help boost the Territory’s tourism recovery.

Sarina Bratton, Chair Australasia for French yacht and expedition cruise line, Compagnie du Ponant, welcomed the move by the NT government. Hollie Adams/The Australian

“This increase to the capacity of crew and passengers on board domestic boutique cruise ships will be a major boost to operators and retailers,” Ms Fyles said.

“We are safely reopening the cruise ship industry in a staged approach and look forward to seeing this industry return and grow into the future.”

The decision comes just ahead of tourists being allowed into Australia from February 21.

High profile coronavirus outbreaks on cruise ships early on in the pandemic have contributed to hesitancy to the industry’s return.

Tourism and cruise ship operators have praised the eased restrictions as a step toward normality.

Tourism NT chairman Michael Bridge said federal permission was still needed before the industry could resume in full force again.

“We are now working with the Australian government to allow their entry to Australia,” Mr Bridge said.

But he hailed the NT government for allowing the industry to operate again.

Ponant Asia-Pacific chairwoman Sarina Bratton said her company would begin to tour again in coming months due to the changes to the CHO directions.

“Ponant applauds the Northern Territory government‘s decision in leading the nation to allow our small expedition ships to once again visit NT waters and seasonally homeport in Darwin,” Ms Bratton said.

“The international expedition sector is a major contributor to indigenous Australians along the Kimberley coastline, and significant contributors to the Tourism economies of both the Northern Territory and Australia’s North-West.”

Ms Bratton echoed Tourism NT’s call for the Australian government to change the nation’s biosecurity laws.

Originally published as Cruise ship capacity limits lifted in the NT