Port of Dubai adds new ships

Fred Olsen Cruises, a Norwegian line, will be sailing the newly-refurbished Black Watch into the Port of Dubai next year as another line tentatively tests the Gulf waters.

Last year, the port handled 13,000 passenger movements. This year, 20,000 passengers are expected to disembark on the emirate, with 30,000 slated to arrive in 2007.

Dubai has a state of the art port, opened in 2001 in the sprawling Port Rashid Complex. Two ships can be docked simultaneously. Several cruise lines called at the port through the winter season.

“We added the Gulf region in order to extend and refresh our Around Africa cruise,” said Nigel Lingard of Fred Olsen Cruises. He said the port offers “an ideal turn around base” for the Africa itinerary.

Fred Olsen will also use the port for fruit, vegetables, and staple food provisioning.

“Whilst we believe in the potential of the area as a cruise destination, sadly, they are inextricably tied to overall regional politics, which will continue to discourage us from ideas such as positioning a vessel there,” says Lingard.