THE STAR LEGEND, operated by Windstar Cruises, which is because of make a cease off Lucaya, Grand Bahama, on December 16.
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
A LOCAL environmentalist is anxious by the arrival and anchoring of a cruise ship in waters off Lucaya, Grand Bahama, the place it might trigger everlasting harm to wholesome coral reefs within the space.
Joseph Darville, chairman of Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas, revealed that info has come to his consideration {that a} Windstar Cruises vessel, the Star Legend, is reportedly anticipated to make a cease off Lucaya on December 16.
He mentioned the ship can be in Grand Bahama from 8am and 6pm and can be tendering passengers from the ship to Port Lucaya.
Mr Darville fears that this might pose a menace to the island’s seabed and is looking on the powers that be for a proof.
“As soon as once more, the island’s seabed is being threatened,” he mentioned. “This follows a protracted historical past of those cruise ships doing huge harm to the coral across the island and in the end the roles, companies, and lifestyle of Grand Bahamians.”
He contends that the vessel is just too giant to dock at Bell Channel. The Star Legend is 522 ft lengthy, weighs 12,995 tons, and has a draft of just below 18 ft, mentioned the environmentalist.
“Why is that this ship not docking at our fashionable docking amenities on the harbour?” he requested.
Due to the depth of water at Bell Channel, Mr Darville mentioned it implies that the ship must keep a bit greater than half a mile offshore and ferry its passengers into Port Lucaya.
“The realm the place a ship this dimension can anchor is a bit underneath 300 ft vast, almost unattainable to precisely hit. On one aspect of this strip, it’s 2,000 ft deep, and on the opposite is our coral reef.
“In any wind, east or south, the anchor will drag into the reef, and between the anchor and its chain, will flip that reef into lifeless gravel,” he mentioned.
Mr Darville indicated that scuba divers from all world wide come to Grand Bahama to dive there, which is likely one of the final wholesome reefs in that space.
“Any ship of that dimension anchoring on this space can’t assist however do everlasting harm to the already endangered coral,” he mentioned.
“It has been documented many occasions up to now. In 2012, the MSC Poesia ran aground in the identical space and dug a 1,000ft trench within the shallow barrier reef that protects Lucaya Seaside from storm erosion. This space remains to be plenished with thriving coral reefs, sea grass and marine life in abundance.”
Mr Darville famous that within the Berry Islands ships anchored in the course of the COVID pandemic destroyed many close by coral, thus an abundance of marine life.
And this has additionally affected folks’s livelihood, he claimed.
“The dive operations and the fishermen at the moment are questioning how they will make a dwelling shifting ahead,” mentioned Mr Darville.
“Don’t let Grand Bahama be the following casualty. How can we recognise this with our world-wide touting blue financial system in addition to our decided efforts to develop and restore a few of our lifeless and broken reefs?
“Please, powers that be, give us some solutions and explanations. We who every day attempt to guard our delicate setting deserve solutions,” Mr Darville mentioned.
The Ministry of Tourism and Aviation introduced final week that Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend vessel will make an inaugural voyage to Grand Bahama on Friday, December 16. The vessel has a capability of 312 visitors.
Nuvolari Chotoosingh, normal supervisor at MOTIA, mentioned rising cruise arrivals to Grand Bahama could be very vital.
Straw distributors at Port Lucaya Market mentioned enterprise is sluggish and they’re struggling to pay their hire, and have known as on the federal government to make sure they get their share of cruise guests at Port Lucaya.
