Ports Of Auckland May Not Build Wharf Big Enough To Handle Ovation Of The Seas

(8 p.m. EDT) -- Two weeks after announcing the deployment of the brand new Ovation of the Seas to Australia for five itineraries to New Zealand, Royal Caribbean has been faced with its first major obstacle -- Ports of Auckland has changed its plans to build a wharf big enough.

Auckland Council, which owns the port company, announced on Thursday that only one of two planned expansions would proceed at Bledisloe Wharf, rendering it unable to accommodate the 348-metre, 4,180-passenger Ovation of the Seas.

According to Cruise New Zealand, this compromise not only threatens the first season of its biggest-ever visiting ship, it also jeopardises the country's fast-growing cruise industry and national economy.

“Ports of Auckland has advised the port will not be able to take the new generation of larger ships such as the Ovation of the Seas, without the full extension it had originally planned,” said Cruise New Zealand chairman Kevin O'Sullivan. “If the ship is unable to call at Auckland, it is unlikely to come to New Zealand at all.”

But this worst-case scenario has not yet been confirmed by the ship's operator.

Gavin Smith, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean Cruises, told Cruise Critic that the company would attempt to seek a solution to the issue.

“We are disappointed to learn about Ports of Auckland's concern regarding berthing for Ovation of the Seas,” Smith said.

“Auckland is an important destination for our guests who visit from around the world. We will continue to work closely with Ports of Auckland to determine a working solution for Ovation of the Seas to visit.”

Smith said the company “remains in discussions with ports around New Zealand” regarding the proposed itineraries for Ovation of the Seas.

The shock agreement between Ports of Auckland and Auckland Council follows a four-week “stand-off”, after councillors reacted to news that the extensions would reach almost 100 metres into the harbour, local media reported. Community group, Stop Stealing Our Harbour, is planning a protest march in the city on Sunday.

Auckland's full wharf extension plans will be the subject of a forthcoming, year-long Port Future Study into the impacts and effects of the extensions.

“This will determine the extent of any further port extensions,” said O'Sullivan. “We will continue discussions in Auckland to see if a resolution can be found.”

--By Louise Goldsbury, Australia Editor