Cruise liner terminal given green light

The Royal Borough of Greenwich and London Mayor Boris Johnson have approved a cruise ship terminal in Greenwich, England.

Even though there had been opposition from local residents on the new plan in Greenwich at Enderby Wharf was still given the green light. Now, with the Mayor’s backing, the terminal is expected to be operational by 2017.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich council originally gave planning approval to the development last month (July 21), and calls were subsequently made by campaigners and London Assembly Members for the Mayor to call-in and override the decision (see AirQualityNews.com story).

The Mayor’s office also confirmed that he is satisfied with measures put in place by the Royal Borough to ensure robust monitoring of air quality associated with the development, with almost half a million pounds being committed towards monitoring and improving air quality.

But the Mayor’s Officer concluded that while it “recognised there could be some moderate adverse impact on occasion, it also acknowledged the height, speed and heat of ship emissions disperse more efficiently in comparison to motor vehicles.”

Local residents had voiced concerns over the environmental impact of ships using the terminal, with fears of increased pollution, noise and traffic. The Greenwich Society claims a ships onboard generators can burn up to 700 liters of diesel fuel hourly and says that is equivalent to 400 idling commercial trucks. Greenwich’s heritage and its riverfront already ensure that the Royal Borough receives millions of visits by tourists each year, contributing some £1.1bn to the local economy and supporting 16,000 jobs.

The terminal will accommodate medium-sized cruise ships up to 820 feet long.

The new terminal facility will become the hub of London’s cruise industry and with a new complex that can cope with hundreds of passengers it can only help the local economy.

This includes the installation of exhaust gas after-treatment systems to reduce pollutant air emissions and the development of particle filters, scrubbers, alternative maritime fuels, and the use of liquefied natural gas both while in port and at sea.

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