Western Australians will see history in the making when the majestic 151,400-tonne passenger ship Queen Mary 2 sails into Fremantle on Sunday morning 14 March 2010.
Thousands of people are expected to flock to vantage points to watch the liner as it claims the mantle of the largest passenger ship ever to visit Fremantle when it berths at about 8.40am (pilot on board in Gage Roads at 8am) on its maiden visit.
Queen Mary 2 will depart Fremantle at 5pm that evening as it continues on its third world voyage, bound for Mauritius.
Reaching 62 metres above the water line, the 345m-long Queen Mary 2 can carry up to 2620 guests and 1253 crew and boasts 10 restaurants, five pools, the biggest ballroom at sea and the largest library afloat, featuring more than 8000 books.
The visit will come two weeks after sister ship, the 90,000-tonne Queen Victoria also makes its maiden visit to Fremantle.
The gracious Queen Victoria will call at Fremantle on Sunday 28 February arriving at 8am (pilot on board) and departing at 6pm.
The best vantage points for seeing passenger ships arriving and departing are along the western end of Victoria Quay, such as near the WA Maritime Museum and in front of A Shed or along South Mole and North Mole. (To see a map of Fremantle Inner Harbour, click here.)
Please note that the Fremantle Passenger Terminal will not be open to the public when Queen Mary 2 visits.
To check on arrival and departure times for ships, see the Shipping Movements section of this website. (Arrival times provided are for when the marine pilot goes on board and the ship is in Gage Roads.)
Queen Mary 2 - interesting facts
· The Queen Mary 2 is two-thirds the length of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 44 metres longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall and 34 metres longer than the original Queen Mary.
· The ship's engines produce enough thrust to launch a jumbo jet and can reach a top speed of 30 knots.
· It has 1072 deck chairs, 2000 bathrooms, 3000 telephones and 5000 stairs.
· The Queen Mary 2 is the largest passenger ship to ever visit Australia; it is more than double the size of Queen Elizabeth 2 and more than three times the size of Titanic.
· It cost an estimated $800 million dollars to build.
· Its whistle is audible for 16 kilometres.
· The ship has no wheel but a joystick to control its movements.
Cruise industry growing in WA
Over recent years, the cruise industry has been growing in Western Australia. In 2008-09, Fremantle Port had 28 cruise ship visits with a passenger count of 38,000. In 2009-10, there are 39 visits scheduled, with an estimated passenger count of 75,000.
Fremantle Ports is supporting the cruise trade and Western Australian tourism by upgrading facilities at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal, with an overall spend of about $2 million over two year. Improvements include traffic management facilities, upgraded security equipment, improved signage and interior refurbishment, including painting and improved amenities.
An economic impact study undertaken for Cruise Down Under (peak body in Australia for the cruise industry) showed that in 2008-09 the industry in WA generated about $55.1 million of expenditure, which resulted in an additional $25.8 million in value added. In 2008-09, cruise shipping generated approximately $41.7 million of expenditure within Perth, up significantly from $30.4 million in 2007-08. This stimulus generated additional wages income of approximately $10.8 million and 198 FTEs. The industry contributed approximately $19.2 million to Perth’s value-added, a significant economic contribution.
Three ships - Athena, Pacific Sun and Sun Princess - will be operating from Fremantle for expanded cruise programs. This seasonal basing of ships at Fremantle Port is contributing to the growth of WA’s tourism industry and injecting millions of dollars annually into the State’s economy. This growth in seasonal basing demonstrates the confidence of the cruise companies in the WA market and the ability of Fremantle Ports and other agencies to provide the necessary services at a high standard.
Passenger liners Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria visiting Fremantle
