All the cruise ships currently under contract to Bermuda will be sold or retired within three to five years.

The newer ships replacing these are longer, wider and carry more passengers and the greatest challenge facing Government is the ability of St. George?s and Hamilton Harbours to accommodate these ?mega? cruise ships.

Speaking at a media event yesterday, Transport Ministry consultant Larry Jacobs said the Norwegian Cruise Lines and , Celebrity?s and are the smallest, oldest and least environmentally-friendly ships in the major cruise line?s fleets.

The smallest ships built by one of the seven major cruise lines over the last five years was 777 feet in length, but the majority range in size from 853 feet to 965 feet in length.

While the , and and were all built in the 1990s and range in length from 615 to 681 feet.

Mr. Jacobs said Post-panamax, or ?mega? cruise ships, varied in length from 975 feet, were up to 108 feet wide, weighed up to 150,000 tons and carried up to 3,800 passengers and up to 1,300 crew. Two of these lines, Crystal Cruises and Cunard?s ships are too long to fit in Hamilton or St. George?s Harbours.

The Ports Enhancement Project was established through consultation with Wedco, the Corporation of Hamilton and St. George?s and includes a five-year effort to enhance the economic and social benefit of Bermuda?s ports and waterfronts.

Mr. Jacobs said this five-year effort will enhance the economic and social benefit of Bermuda?s ports and waterfronts of Hamilton, Dockyard and St. George?s.

Mr. Jacobs said the project covered several topics including a vision for each cruise port, improved capability to accommodate the industry?s larger, contemporary vessels, transportation and related infrastructure needs and potential for waterfront rejuvenation.

?Data collection and analysis are underway for Dockyard and St. George?s,? he said.

Mr. Jacobs added that additional elements currently being looked at included a review of modifications to Town Cut, Two Rock Passage, the Narrows and North and South Channels for navigational purposes.

This includes computer simulations taking every possible scenario into account. Other elements include berthing and terminal locations and size, environmental impact, ground and marine transportation areas and port security, which needs to meet new international seaport security requirements.

Work is underway to study the feasibility of building a second cruise ship pier at Dockyard.

?We feel that?s the logical place to expand the cruise product if it needs to be expanded, so over the next five to six months work will be done, looking at the implications of that,? he said.

Mr. Jacobs said no decision has been made to modify Town Cut in St. George?s.

?The process is underway to collect information and conduct computer simulations to determine modifications that may be required to transit larger ships,? he said.

He said National Trust members, environmental groups, engineers and technical people from Marine and Ports recently followed a cruise ship through the Town Cut.

?This was only a 600 foot ship so if you had a 900 foot ship, you can imagine what a challenge it would be,? he said.

Adding that they would be remiss in their responsibilities if they did not look at the potential for accommodating at least one large ship in St. George?s.

As far as Hamilton is concerned, Mr. Jacobs said currently two ships can dock simultaneously, but are restricted in length.

Currently one ship docks on Mondays and two ships from Tuesday to Thursday with a maximum of approximately 3,200 visitors.

He said the consultation process was well underway with the Corporations of St. George?s and Hamilton, but no decision had been made to modify Two Rock Passage, or relocate the container dock.

Mr. Jacobs ended by saying the expansion of the ferry system ? to accommodate the increase in cruise ship passengers in the larger ships ? was important and bids are currently being reviewed for another high speed ferry boat.