Take a good look at the picture above – it will soon be a thing of the past
Geiranger, the second-busiest cruise destination in Norway, is to remove the need for passengers to be taken ashore by tender boats, with the construction of an innovative floating pier.
Expected to be ready for use by June, the SeaWalk will save passengers’ time and reduce pollution at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed destination, which attracts more than 300,000 visitors arriving by ship each year.
Using lifeboats to carry passengers to the village’s pier could take a large ships, such as Cunard’s Queen Victoria (above) up to three hours, and many passengers with limited mobility choose to remain on board rather than make the 10-minute journey.
The self-propelled jetty, operating from the current tender pier, could accommodate the same number of people in an hour. The port of Skjolden, at the head of Sognefjord, which built the first SeaWalk last year (below, with Queen Elizabeth), has more than doubled the number of visiting cruise ships.
Rita Berstad Maraak, port director of the Stranda Port Authority, said: “A SeaWalk will significantly reduce emissions and discharges in the fjord. For Stranda Port Authority.
“It is important that we stay ahead of developments and take seriously the challenges facing us as a result of increasing numbers of passengers and ever larger ships. Otherwise, we will find ourselves being directed by the environmental authorities and others to take action before long,” she added.
Hi John
I was visiting Skjolden the other day and saw this floating structure but had no idea what it was until I asked our host about it. Ingenious it is too. She also said something about the designer having to fight through the courts for protection of his design or something. Do you know anything of this ? I’d be interested to know more if you have any information available. We’re visiting Gerainger tomorrow so look forward to seeing the thing there in use ??
Some cruise ships use the SeaWalk. Others still tender ashore. If there are two or more ships in Geiranger, only one can use the SeaWalk. I’ll be interested to hear if you’re one of those who can walk ashore