March 2005
LORD HOWE ISLAND BOARD
CRUISE SHIP VISITATION POLICY
1. No approval will be issued for cruise ships visits that involve the disembarkation of
more than 80 persons per visit.
2. No cruise ships will be permitted to visit the island during NSW Christmas and Easter
school holiday periods.
3. The number of cruise ship visits is restricted to a maximum of 1 per shoulder season
and 3 during winter each year.
4. No staff or crew are permitted ashore except in a work capacity.
5. Cruise ship visits to the LHI Marine Park and the island will not be for a period longer
than 12 hours, this period to include anchoring on arrival, any quarantine or customs
matters (see Guideline 13), any associated marine or shore-based activities,
weighing anchor and departing.
6. All on shore activities to be undertaken as part of an organised tour, run by an
approved local tour operator.
7. All water based activities within the marine park, except transport directly to and from
the cruise ship and island, will be undertaken as part of an organised tour, run by an
approved local tour operator.
8. The operator has a proven, documented history of successful operation in similar
environmental and social contexts and is able to demonstrate compliance with all
best practice standards for the operation of ship based tourism in sensitive natural
and cultural environments.
9. Once a visit is approved, the associated itinerary will be co-ordinated through the
LHITA, who will organise activities and collect fees on behalf of tour operators.
10. Operators applying to The Board and/or the MPA will make the LHITA aware in
writing of their application at the time it is lodged and will not promote a visit to LHI
without seeking and obtaining the prior approval of the Board and/or the MPA for the
visit.
11. The Operator will provide all passengers prior to disembarking, with any material
which the Board and/or the MPA deem necessary to ensure that passengers are
aware of issues such as natural environment sensitivity, quarantine issues, waste
and water management etc
12. Where LHI is the first port of call in Australia waters, Operators will ensure that all
customs and quarantine requirements are met and completed prior to passengers
leaving the vessel. The operator will also comply with any additional quarantine
requirement imposed by the LHIB, these to be provided to the Operator at least
fourteen (14) days prior to arrival at LHI.
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March 2005
13. The MPA will continue to put a condition in any permit given to an operator to the
effect that the operator must seek the prior approval of the Board to disembark
passengers onto the island, and will include an additional condition that all operators
abide by these guidelines.
14. In giving consent under the MPA permit condition, the Board applies the following
conditions: that operators abide by these guidelines ; that operators pay a per head
levy being an amount equivalent to LHI Passenger Levy and LHI Environmental
Levy.
15. That the Board deem disembarkation of passengers onto the island as a commercial
activity requiring consent under clause 70 of the LHI Regulation and that operators
pay the standard annual fee for the appropriate business category.
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