PONANT’s Le Jacques Cartier became the first cruise vessel to dock at Broome’s new floating wharf earlier this week.

The floating platform was built by the Kimberley Marine Support Base to be integrated with the Port of Broome’s existing facilities.

“These new facilities will make a huge improvement for cruise lines and their guests when they visit Broome, allowing greater space and certainty for operations regardless of the region’s huge tides,” CLIA said.

“The investment made by the KMSB – Kimberley Marine Support Base will help bring enormous benefits to the WA economy, supporting the development of cruise tourism into the future.”

Designed to handle large cruise ships and support marine industries, the platform helps to overcome Broome’s extreme tidal range while enhancing its tourism and logistics capabilities.

The causeway connects the floating wharf to the shore, thereby ensuring stability even with significant tidal fluctuations.

“The wharf also supports our industry’s vision for first-point-of-entry status for Broome, which would mean international ships could arrive directly without having to stop in Darwin or Fremantle,” CLIA continued. To this end, the industry body is working with its members and the Australian Cruise Association as well as the port, the WA Government and Federal agencies.