Government wants to rule out mega-cruise ships visiting Bermuda in the future because of the strain they would put on the Island's infrastructure and environment, Transport Minister Ewart Brown said yesterday.

But Government will continue consultations with the cruise industry and organisations on the Island before deciding if different sized ships will come in the future.

The Minister's comments suggest Government has rejected the main planning assumption contained in a draft consultants' report on the cruise ship industry from Miami-based Bermello Ajamil.

The draft report said the Island should plan for the future on the premise that the new generation of ships visiting the Island would be up to 950 feet long and carry as many as 2,500 passengers and 800 crew.

The Royal Gazette revealed last month that one option contained in the draft report was building a 600-foot pier into Hamilton harbour. This was said by the consultants to be the most popular among Police, Customs and the Corporation of Hamilton.

Another proposal was to extend the docks into the water at Hamilton by around 30 feet and integrate bus and taxi services on Front Street.

But both these proposals were based on the assumption that the Island would accommodate 950-foot ships with up to 2,500 guests.

Concern over mega-ships Dr. Brown, who received the final report last month, said yesterday that no decisions have been made, but added: "Government prefers to avoid mega-ships because of environmental and infrastructure issues.

"The information contained in the report will be included in the development of a comprehensive cruise ship policy for the Island with a goal to still accommodate cruise ships, but avoid the mega-ships.'' When asked if Government was considering bigger ships than those currently visiting the Island, he said: "We know now we're comfortable with approximately 1500 or so people on a ship.

"When you consider the bed capacity we currently have, around 7-8,000, if a cruise ship comes in with 3,000 passengers, there is a tremendous impact on our infrastructure.

"We struggle to integrate ferries and taxis for 1,500, so 3,000 would significantly increase the impact.

"We know our preference for a comfort zone. The final position will be as a result of a conversation between Government and the cruise ship industry on the exact size of ship, depending upon what's available, and what the companies might be able to do.'' Dr. Brown said while larger cruise ships were for the seven-day market, the ships visiting Bermuda were the smallest in the fleet of companies serving the Island.

He said some companies might decide to dedicate ships just for Bermuda. "We think we're a special market and special destination,'' he said. "When we've finished our discussion with the cruise ship industry, we'll discover how special they think we are.'' When asked if by failing to embrace the bigger ships, some cruise companies might stop calling at the Island, he replied: "What we're trying to do is what is best for Bermuda and if in the process some people don't do as much business as before and others do more business than before, that's part of doing business.'' Dr. Brown did not disclose any details about the report, which is being studied by Cabinet, but said no final decisions had been made.

Government has been criticised by the United Bermuda Party for not having a policy on cruise ships, but Dr. Brown promised it would be produced shortly, following consultation with Tourism Minister David Allen and Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

"The cruise ship policy is being developed as we speak. I know it's time to put the cruise ship policy on the table and it shouldn't be long before we do that,' he said.

Dr. Brown also confirmed the report, looking at docking facilities in Hamilton, St. George's and Dockyard, also had options for moving cruise terminals to other locations, although he would not disclose details.

Chairman of the visitor retail section of the Chamber of Commerce, Ian Smith, said he was surprised Dr. Brown had ruled out mega-ships before carrying out more research.

Mr. Smith said he believed the current number of cruise visitors, around 170,000, was about right.

But he added: "David Allen is working very hard to do the right thing to make sure tourism and Bermuda succeed. I'm a bit surprised anyone would make that decision without more research.'' Full steam ahead?: Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown, flanked by Marine and Ports director Ron Ross (left) and Marine and Ports Authority chairman Philip Richardson, displays a copy of a new report into the cruise ship industry.

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