Ship of dreams

Hamish Heard
UNCERTAIN weather conditions have hampered Geelong’s bid to give berth to the biggest passenger ship ever to visit Corio Bay this Sunday.
City Hall and the region’s peak tourism body have this week been in overdrive preparing a “spectacular” welcome for passengers and crew from the Netherlands-based cruise ship Statendam.
But Geelong Otway Tourism chief Roger Grant said a last-minute message from the ship’s captain had thrown the plans into disarray.
“The captain basically informed the Geelong port authority that, due to uncertain weather conditions and the tight fit of the pier, the boat’s owners had decided not to dock at Cunningham Pier,” he said.
The boat would instead lay anchor in Corio Bay and ferry passengers and crew ashore, Mr Grant said.
At 220 metres in length, 30 metres in width and towering 48 metres above the waterline, the vessel was set to dwarf Cunningham Pier when it arrives at 7am Sunday.
“It’s disappointing that the boat won’t come all the way into the pier but it will still be a spectacular event from a visual point of view.”
Mr Grant still expected thousands of local spectators to flock to the waterfront to welcome the visitors, mainly elderly American and Canadian tourists.
The Geelong West Brass Band would perform between 7am and 9am before an official welcoming ceremony, including the presentation of a painting by a local artist to the captain, at 10.30am.
Mr Grant said many of the passengers would join coach tours of the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast, Ballarat and Melbourne during the 12-hour stopover.
But there will be plenty on offer in central Geelong too.
“The Sunday market will be in full flight and the usual attractions like the ferris wheel, the Carousel and activities on the water like jet boats, a seaplane, helicopter joyflights and Freedom Bay cruises will give the visitors plenty to enjoy.”
Deputy Mayor John Mitchell predicted the visit would be an economic boon to the city’s retailers and tourism operators.