A great opportunity looms for Thunder Bay to become the home port for a new cruise ship.
Community Economic Development Commission CEO Eric Zakrewski tells us Monday evening city council could approve $100,000, the money coming from the hotel tax, to make Dock 6 more accessible for that purpose.
“Viking cruise lines, the largest expedition cruising company in the world, is building the largest cruise ship the Great Lakes has ever seen and Thunder Bay will be the home for the Octantis,” says Zakrewski.
The CEDC head adds though cruise ships have docked here, this would be on a level Thunder Bay has never seen before.
He adds of the cruise ships coming to Thunder Bay “Viking alone will create $5.5 million in local spending for our economy.”
According to the website shiptechnology.com “The new expedition vessel will sail on voyages to Antarctica and the Great Lakes of North America. It will navigate remote Polar Regions and the St Lawrence River. The ship is designed to have a minimal environmental impact, as well as meet biosecurity standards and stringent emission norms.”
The article points out the ship will be 665 feet long and 77 feet wide and will accommodate 378 guests in 189 staterooms. Sprucing up Dock 6 would be finished by Fall, ready for the new ship to dock for the 2022 season.
