WESTERN BUREAU – Shipping interests in western Jamaica anticipate spin-off business for the local economy from the Spanish cruise ship MV Holiday Dream, most immediately in the areas of food and fuel supply.

The ship, which carries 687 passengers and 408 crew members, made its maiden voyage to Montego Bay on Wednesday, and is expected to call weekly at the city’s port over the next three to four years.

Holiday Dream is operated by Pulmantur Cruises out of Spain.

Harry Maragh, president of the Jamaica Cruise Shipping Association and chief executive officer and chairman of Lannaman and Morris Shipping, said not only will the vessel be conducting passenger exchange in Jamaica, but it would be buying food and fuel.

He said it was not customary for a ship out of Europe to make all year round calls to Jamaica and also to purchase local products to replenish the ship’s stock.

“Very rarely you get a ship out of Europe that’s making all year round calls; very rarely you get a ship that would buy its produce and also will do passenger pick-ups here. So, it is unique in itself and there is a contract that goes up until 2008,” said Maragh.

He said other vessels purchase local produce, but not in the large volumes that Holiday Dream proposes to buy. The ship wants potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers, along with local beer Red Stripe.

For Maragh, the cruise pact is just another demonstration of the increasing investor interest that Spanish companies have shown in Jamaica.

One of the most significant investments is the $5-billion (US$850-million) Iberostar resort property on which Prime Minister PJ Patterson broke ground at Rose Hall in Montego Bay in October. Iberostar operates properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, United States, Greece and Turkey.

In addition, Riu has already built two properties in Negril and is constructing a third at Runaway Bay. Maragh believes the hotel investments will pull the cruise lines here.

“Spanish investors have been pouring a lot of money into Jamaica, and if you notice, it is in the tourism sector. I am sure the spin-off is going to be more cruise lines wanting to bring their own cruise passengers, and this, incidentally, is a start,” said the shipper.

William Tatham, head of the Cruise Shipping division at the Port Authority of Jamaica, said the deal with Pulmantur, which is a growing cruise line, was initiated two years ago. He said following subsequent follow-ups, the operators decided to sail Holiday Dream to Jamaica. The ship was built in 1981, but refurbished in 1999 and again in 2003.

The business it brings from Europe adds to weekly winter calls made by Aida Cruises out of Germany. Tatham says an extensive plan for the marine side of the Montego Bay Pier is fully underway and when that is realised, the pier will be able to simultaneously berth two of the world’s biggest cruise lines, Carnival Conquest and the Ultra Voyager.

The Ultra Voyager is now under construction and is due to set sail in 2006. Tatham noted that the land side of the pier was yet to be designed, but stressed that the emphasis was always on the marine side.

The Port Authority’s engineering department is reviewing the design plans to cost the job. No implementation has been set for construction, though there is a push to get it going by 2005.

“We have met with both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation which companies are our two biggest partners and have the largest ships, and they have agreed what we are conceptually doing,” said Tatham.

“The priority was always on the marine side, because we can keep bringing in ships regardless of whether the land side has been developed. The priority is to get that done, and I would imagine that it would start somewhere in 2005,” said the shipping official.

tysonv@jamaicaobserver.com