WELLINGTON: Ports of Auckland is set to turn away one of the world’s largest cruise ships after agreeing with its council-owner not to build one of two planned wharf extensions.
It said, without the extension, it could not berth the Ovation of the Seas, which means the mega-liner may also drop stops at four other New Zealand ports.
The 5000-passenger liner, which enters service next year, was pencilled in for four visits to Auckland the summer after next.
Ports of Auckland said it would have berthed at the Bledisloe Three extension, which it has now agreed with its owner, the Auckland Council, not to build for now.
That followed a four-week stand-off, after councillors were taken by surprise in February with news that the extensions would reach nearly 100 metres into the harbour.
The port company said the only alternative was the general cargo Jellicoe Wharf, but it could not afford to keep the wharf clear of cargo for five days around each of the cruise liner’s four tentative visits.
