City in interstate battle for cruiser

Hamish Heard
Brisbane and Adelaide have emerged as obstacles in a bid for Geelong to become a SouthPacific cruise liner’s summer home.
Board members of two companies behind the proposal to base a 120metrelong ship in Australia during the South Pacific monsoon season will meet next week to decide the boat’s summer headquarters.
Via Marine chief executive and chairman John Webb said the company hoped to convince its partner in the joint venture, Starship Cruises USA Incorporated, that Geelong was the logical choice out of the three cities.
The former Geelong resident and avid Cats fan said partners were debating whether Geelong would become the joint venture’s operational centre or merely a corporate headquarters.
“There would be substantially bigger opportunities for Geelong in terms of employment and flowon for tourism operators and other businesses if it was the operational centre rather than just a corporate office and occasional port of call,” Mr Webb said.
He was confident Geelong would win the right to become the ship’s base for refuelling and restocking because of the city’s proximity to Avalon Airport, Cunningham Pier, the city centre and other regional attractions.
“I’ve already said we need to paint blue and white hoops on the funnel as a safety measure,” Mr Webb said.
Under the proposal, the ship would offer cruises from Geelong for up to 280 passengers to Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln, Ceduna, Wallaroo and Adelaide.
The 6000tonne vessel would offer fourstar cabins, fine dining and entertainment to domestic and international patrons.
Mr Webb said he was confident the ship would sail from Geelong as early as November.
The benefits of international exposure for the Geelong region would be “priceless”, he said.