NPA will accommodate ‘soccer’ vessels at repair quay

The National Ports Authority, not exactly renowned for scoring consistently high brownie points with cruise line shipping operators, is intent on putting its best foot forward in support of that particular sector during World Cup 2010. The authority’s view on affording the industry a place in the sun by providing all the necessary in-port mod cons for high-paying passengers is on record – it’s not Transnet’s duty to incur such a massive investment for what is at best a seasonal business. Last week, however, NPA Cape Town made clear it would do whatever possible to support vessels calling at the Mother City port for the mammoth event. It is official that Holland America Line will dispatch two massive ships with a combined passenger and crew complement of some 6 000 to call at Cape Town between June 9 and July 12. The sisterships MS Noordam and MS Westerdam are of 82 500grt, more than 300 metres long, and will be accommodated at the repair quay. NPA Cape Town communications manager, Coen Birkenstock, tells FTW special land arrangements are planned to make passenger access and departure as smooth as possible. Contrary to many predictions, the soccer extravaganza is not going to make South Africa rich, say leading sports economists Stefan Szymanski and Simon Kuper. They point out former host countries, such as Germany, were organised, with existing infrastructure in place, whereas South Africa had to virtually start from scratch to create stadia and other necessities.