Cruise Liner fireworks send-off cancelled

A planned firework display at Hatston on Sunday, to mark the close of the 2016 cruise liner season has been cancelled.

One of the final cruise ships of the season, Boudicca, was due to be sent off in style with a fireworks display, but a combination of the weather forecast and changes to the ship’s itinerary means this will not take place.

Instead, Marine Services intends to donate the firework to community events planned around Guy Fawke’s Night in November.

According to the OIC, by the end of this month, Orkney will have welcomed over 125 cruise visits in 2016, representing around 95,500 passengers. Plans are already being put in place for the 2017 season, with the number of calls expected to increase.

James Stockan, the chairman of the OIC’s development and infrastructure committee, said: “The growth of the cruise liner industry has presented Orkney with some tremendous opportunities, not least in terms of providing much needed employment in our islands.

“The season has also presented us with some challenges and we look forward to tackling these head on into next year.  I’d like to thank all those who have supported the development of the industry locally, particularly the cruise travel companies for their continued custom.  See you in 2017!”