$13.7m cruise berth for Lyttelton

Majority council-owned Lyttelton Port of Christchurch is getting a new $13.7 million purpose-built cruise berth.

The berth will be funded by a passenger development levy as agreed between the port, Cruise New Zealand, and cruise lines to New Zealand, and will include limited passenger facilities.

The cruise berth will be at a new location at the end of Cashin Quay berth on the western end of the Lyttelton Container Terminal. The 40m heavy-duty berth will increase the port's capacity during the cruise off-season. This will be useful as the port rebuilds facilities after the earthquake in Canterbury on September 4.

In the 2011-2012 season, 72 cruise ships are expected to visit the port and in future it is possible 100 vessels will visit in a season.

- NZPA