Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 3, 2006 22:55:22 GMT -5
Work begins on cruise ship facility
Campbell River's floating dock should be ready by this fall
Carla Wilson, Times Colonist
Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, March 03, 2006
Trailers and equipment are moving in. Within two weeks, workers will start driving steel pilings into the waters off Campbell River to build a long-awaited cruise ship dock by this fall.
The $10.18-million floating concrete dock will be able to handle the largest ships cruising our coast. Campbell River is counting on it to entice cruise ships to stop so passengers and crew can visit the community and spend money in shops and on excursions.
"When I actually see one of those piles being driven, I think it will really click in," said Campbell River Band economic development officer Jodee Dick.
Sept. 17 marks the first of six visits this fall by Celebrity Cruise Line's 265-metre Mercury, which can carry 1,884 passengers.
U.S.-based ACC-Hurlen was the lowest bidder and winner among three applicants to build the dock, located on band land, Dick said. The band council followed the recommendation from Westmar Engineering Consultants in favour of ACC-Hurlen. The city of Campbell River and the band are joint owners of the water lot lease.
Rising construction costs boosted the project's overall price by about 14 per cent overall to $18.6 million, she said. The city agreed in January to come up with the extra $500,000 needed for the marine contract. That follows an earlier contribution of $1 million, which went toward the piles, Mayor Roger McDonnell said. The city is receiving invoices for its share of construction work.
Businesses are looking forward to the cruise ship dock, part of a developing B.C. cruise route, McDonnell said. "It is good for the economy. It is helping a new cruise ship product into Canada."
Timing is tight but the band has applied to senior governments to make up the remaining $1.6 million project shortfall, hoping to have the onshore work, including a Canada Customs building, landscaping and lighting, finished by September. The federal and provincial governments are supplying the bulk of the funding.
Plans also call for a village-style area with big houses and kiosks. Estimates are being prepared and other organizations will be approached for funding, she said.
The band's project budget information is confidential, Dick said. "Our band business is usually quite private."
Campbell River has long billed itself as the salmon capital of the world. Rivercorp, the district's non-profit development agency, is seeking $80,000 from the city to promote four economic areas: Manufacturing and processing, transportation, professionals and technicians, and organized recreation and accommodation.
Fishing hasn't been forgotten.
"It is part of the heritage of this community. Certainly people still come
here to fish," said Rivercorp general manager Patrick Marshall. Rather, today's focus is on a diversified economy.
A maritime consultant has estimated the annual direct and indirect economic impact from cruise ships arriving in Campbell River at $13 million, Dick said.
So far, 26 cruise ship visits have been scheduled for the 2007 season. The Royal Caribbean Line has booked two visits and the Mercury 24