MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ushuaia preparing to receive Queen Mary II

The port of Ushuaia has formally requested funds from the Argentine federal government for the extension of the main pier, making it one of the few ports in the world where the new generation of cruise vessels can dock.

"The idea is to extend the pier to 350 metres, with a 14 metres draught ensuring that great cruise vessels such as the Queen Mary II and its 360 metres can actually dock", said Engineer Eduardo Coppola from the Tierra del Fuego Provincial Ports Authority.

"If we can convince federal authorities and manage the funds we would become one of the few ports in the world capable of receiving the new generation of cruise vessels. In most ports they would have to remain in the bay", underlined Mr. Coppola.

Ushuaia has become the main cruise and Antarctic support port in the South Atlantic and "we need to have specific areas for each of the activities; bulk cargo represents 80% of Ushuaia annual turnover and the other 20% Antarctica and the tourism industry".

"Our policy has been to be one step ahead of events, adjusting port rates gradually, and I believe we have been quite successful", highlighted Mr. Coppola.

The 150,000 gross tonnage "Queen Mary II" was built at a cost of 800 million US dollars in the French shipyard of Saint Nazaire and launched in December 2003.

She carries 2,620 passengers with a crew of 1,253 and is expected in Ushuaia and Punta Arenas late January, early February 2006.