Overnight Cruise Ship Visits Suspended in White Bay

The New South Wales (NSW) Port Authority has suspended all overnight cruise ship visits to White Bay until the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has regulated ultra-low sulphur fuel use for ships berthing at the terminal.

Port Authority of NSW CEO, Grant Gilfillan, said previous overnight cruise ship visits to White Bay Cruise Terminal and the adjoining berth named White Bay 4 had caused concern to some residents, particularly unscheduled overnight arrivals.

The first people to hear about this voluntary measure were members of the Port Authority's Glebe Island and White Bay Community Liaison Group, when they met on Monday evening.

Though the next scheduled overnight cruise ship arrival at White Bay Cruise Terminal is not until December 18-19, 2015, the Port Authority's suspension of overnight cruise ship visits to White Bay will continue until the NSW EPA regulation is implemented.

Once the regulation is in place, only vessels in compliance with the regulation will be able to berth overnight at White Bay.

The temporary moratorium is subject to maritime safety and emergency considerations and legitimate legal instruction, including by regulatory authorities such as the various Commonwealth border agencies.