Cruise control: dock blockade costs up to €800,000 per ship

The Amsterdam Port Authority said that the Extinction Rebellion group blocked the IJmuiden lock, preventing cruise ships from docking in Amsterdam, causing each cruise ship to suffer economic losses of 600,000 to 800,000 euros.

Disney Cruise Line announced on Monday that the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream ship, originally scheduled to arrive on September 6, will not call at the capital due to the possibility of a lockdown.

A spokesperson for Cruise Port Amsterdam told telegraph“We’ve been told that companies are looking at alternatives, but we haven’t heard of any further cancellations yet,” he told reporters.

The spokesman said the cancellation would mean the Port of Amsterdam would lose port fees, but the impact would be wider. “The total loss could be up to €800,000 per ship, including port fees, dockage, tourist taxes and expenses for passengers and crew. It would also affect shop owners, taxi drivers, tour guides and security staff,” he said.

Amsterdam councillor Kas van Berkel (JA21) has asked parliament for an explanation, saying the losses would amount to “millions of dollars” if the campaign went ahead. He said Extinction Rebellion’s actions were illegal.

“They are blocking a major shipping route. They tie themselves to the locks and then a specialised police force will dangerously drive them off,” Mr van Berkel said.

Extinction Rebellion said the lockdown had been a huge success so far and they had “targeted every cruise ship”, one activist wrote. ten.

Although the City of Amsterdam’s projected revenue is €34 million, Limit the number of cruise ships to 100 Starting in 2026, passenger traffic at Veemkade Terminal will be cut by almost half. In addition, the city plans to completely close Veemkade Terminal by 2035 and move all ocean-going cruise ships to a new location.

The ban on cruise ships is part of a series of measures in the Dutch capital to limit tourism growth and combat nuisance. Voted in favor This move last year.

“The city council wants to create a liveable, clean and sustainable city,” said Hester van Buren, the city council’s port manager. “Maritime cruising is a polluting form of tourism that causes overcrowding and pollution.” She said the “balancing measure aims to meet reasonable and acceptable standards for all participants in the North Sea Canal Area”.