A plan to build a 240-metre cruise liner berth on the outer pier of Douglas harbour at a cost of £11m has been announced.

The scheme was announced today by the Department of Infrastructure as part of a plan to improve the island’s five key ports, Douglas, Ramsey, Peel, Port Erin and Port St Mary.

The proposals would cover a three-year order of works covering seven different sections within the Douglas harbour area with an estimated total cost of £80.37m, although no planned start date has been announced.

The first of the three years will see work begin on the £11m cruise berth.

The second year will see the pleasure craft slip and holding area, costing £6.98m, the windfarm support vessel pontoons, new breakwater and revetment which will cost £17.22m and £14.83m upgrades to the Kind Edward VIII Pier.

The final year will see an upgrade to the tanker berth costing £15.55m, upgrade to the Victoria Pier RoRo berth costing £10.56m and the cruise tender berth will cost £4.23m.

If carried out as planned, the Department of Infrastructure believes it can save £3m to £4m.

For example, the rock taken out during the construction of the cruise liner berth can be used in another area of the harbour saving on buying raw materials.

The new cruise liner berth, set to be on the outer side of the Queen Victoria pier, will be the centrepiece of the project set out in the government’s harbour strategy.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer said: ’Ports and harbours play a crucial role in the life of any island and this document looks at how we can ensure our facilities are robust, modern and practical for both industry and leisure.

’This strategy considers the current facilities and operational challenges at Douglas, with recommendations for development or improvement at the island’s natural harbours.

’We are working in partnership with the Department for Enterprise to look at ways of stimulating new investment, which would support the wider Manx economy.’

The £11m berth will be part of several changes in Douglas harbour which include the middle harbour and south quay and the creation of pontoons to accommodate wind farm support vessels.

There will also be upgrading works to the Edward Pier, the Victoria Pier RoRo berth and the tanker berth.

A spokesman for the DoI said: ’A key element behind the strategy is a review of Douglas harbour undertaken by marine engineers Royal HaskoningDHV, commissioned by the DoI.’

The review says that the average cruise liner that arrives in the island has a draft, the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull, of eight metres.

Therefore, to allow for liners of such size to move freely in and out of the port and manoeuvre within it, the DoI will have to have the outer pier dredged to a depth of nine and a half metres, liners larger than 240 metres will still anchor in the bay and tender ships will bring passengers ashore.

The review also states that Royal HaskoningDHV believe ’that a small marquee structure or the existing terminal building will be set up to cover any security or Customs issues’.

The Department for Enterprise is also backing a cruise ship berth, ’with the proposed model having the potential to grow annual passenger numbers from today’s 6,200 to between 30,000 and 40,000 in 10 to 25 years’ time’.

Enterprise Minister Lawrence Skelly said: ’The Isle of Man has seen growing interest from cruise visitors in recent years, becoming a valued place to visit and explore. However, we are currently unable to benefit from thousands of potential extra visitors to the Isle of Man, as larger cruise ships are simply unable to dock using the current facilities.

’There are also broader opportunities for local businesses to take advantage of the increase in ships and visitors.’

The marina in Peel is also identified in the strategy as an opportunity for investment, while the possibility of creating a full tidal access marina at Port St Mary is raised as a significant opportunity for private investment.

Port Erin is identified as offering the only viable alternative to Douglas in being able to accommodate cruise ships.