Ships of any size can visit the Port of Cork as demonstrated by the arrival of Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 on October 21.
This was just one of 56 calls in 2009 when 82,286 passengers and 33,878 crew visited the port. Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas (pictured) also called.
To date, 50 calls are scheduled in 2010 carrying an estimated 85,600 passengers and 36,000 crew.
A dedicated cruise berth, Cobh, was completed in 2007 which can accommodate the largest cruiseships afloat. It has a length of 350m, a depth alongside of 9.1m and 11.2m in the approach channel. Ongoing shoreside development is being considered according to Captain Michael McCarthy, commercial manager, which he says will help position the port as a future turnround port.
There are two further berths. Cork City has a length of 152m with a depth alongside of 8.8m and 5.2m in the approach channel. The deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy has a length of 360m, a depth of 13.4m and 11.2m in the approach channel.
