Auckland Mayor welcomes cruise industry to Shed 10

5 August 2013

Auckland Mayor welcomes cruise industry to Shed 10

The Mayor of Auckland will welcome New Zealand’s cruise industry to Shed 10 on Auckland’s waterfront today to celebrate its opening as a multi-use cruise ship and events facility.

More than 100 of the country’s leading cruise and tourism representatives will take the opportunity to tour Shed 10, which has been transformed from a cargo shed into a state-of-the-art facility that will provide an excellent welcome experience for cruise passengers to Auckland.

Figures released today confirm that Auckland’s 2012/13 season was the biggest ever. Auckland welcomed 100 cruise ships with 178,000 passengers and 78,000 crew, resulting in an injection of $116.3 million GDP into the region’s economy.

ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says the new terminal will help enhance Auckland’s excellent reputation as a cruise destination and contribute to the Auckland Visitor Plan goal of growing tourism’s economic contribution to $6 billion by 2021.

“Auckland has already won several international awards for its handling of cruise ships and as a destination for passengers. We are confident that this new terminal will help us to improve on that performance and encourage more ships to come to Auckland – and for passengers to make sure Auckland is top of their list of places to return to,” he says.

We look forward to welcoming cruise passengers to our wonderful city from October. The new terminal will feature an i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, where passengers can get information and advice which will help ensure they get the most out of their stay.”

“Auckland businesses will also continue to benefit from the related economic growth opportunities, including ship replenishment, training of cruise ship staff and marine maintenance,” says Mr O’Riley.

Shed 10 will operate as Auckland’s primary cruise terminal from the start of the 2013/14 cruise season on 11 October with the arrival of Carnival Cruise’s Sea Princess.

The cruise industry has played a key role in shaping the new facility to ensure that it’s an efficient and functional terminal, including a mobile gangway that was designed and built in Auckland.

The first floor of Shed 10, with its extensive views of the Waitemata Harbour and Auckland city, will operate as a passenger lounge, while the ground floor will provide space for passenger luggage and security and border processing.

Ports of Auckland Chief Executive Tony Gibson says the refurbished Shed 10 is a fantastic facility that preserves the integrity of its humble beginnings as a cargo shed.

“The mobile gangway provided by Ports of Auckland is a specialist piece of equipment that will automatically move up and down as the ship moves with the tide and allow for the rapid transfer of passengers between the ship and Shed 10,” he says.

The new cruise facility will help to support ATEED’s work to grow the visitor economy in line with the targets in its 10-year Auckland Visitor Plan. ATEED – on behalf of Auckland Council – aims to double the contribution from the visitor economy, growing it to $6 billion in 2021.

Shed 10 incorporates a number of sustainability initiatives – including the use of natural light and ventilation, the adaptive reuse of materials and refurbishment of existing components of the building along with the careful selection of environmentally friendly materials and finishes. This is complemented by the largest solar panel system of its kind in the country installed on the roof of Shed 10 which will supply power to the Shed and into the Auckland grid.

The refurbishment of Shed 10 was managed by Waterfront Auckland. Ports of Auckland has funded the costs of the mobile gangway.

ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) is Auckland’s economic growth agency). ATEED is responsible for delivering the visitor experience in Shed 10.

ENDS

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