Beginning of the tourist season | The first cruise passengers arrive in Montreal

Nearly 1,500 passengers from Florida disembarked from the gigantic cruise ship Zaandam Saturday morning, marking the very first day of the cruise season in Montreal.

In total, more than 45,000 passengers are expected in Montreal by this seaway this year. The spinoffs are estimated at $25 million for the city, said Mélanie Nadeau, vice-president of public affairs for the Port of Montreal.

If these figures show a 20% increase compared to last year, they are still almost half of the influx of cruise passengers before the pandemic, recognizes M^me Nadeau.

Reaching Montreal by cruise ship is not without its challenges, and only smaller ships can do it. Indeed, from Quebec, the bridges of a height of fifty meters limit the height of the boats.

THE Zaandam, for example, is 47 meters high. For this ship, the cruise season begins when the water level has dropped sufficiently to allow navigation under the bridges, explains its captain, the Dutchman Ane Smit.

The latter has been sailing to Montreal since 1999 for Holland-America Line, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

Entering and exiting the strong currents of the river makes navigation particularly risky, he explains.

The captains must also be accompanied by pilots from the St. Lawrence, specialized in navigating the river, to navigate it.

“You have to know the shipping channel like the back of your hand,” notes M^me Nadeau.

Limit pollution

Saturday morning, a row of taxis take turns on the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal to pick up cruise passengers. The rain threatens, but some incursions of sun are at the rendezvous. Some tourists end their trip in Montreal while others take advantage of a day to visit the metropolis before returning aboard the ship to Boston.

According to Yves Gilson, marketing and cruise director for the Port of Montreal, the restrictions related to navigation to the metropolis make it a luxury destination. “Here, there is no risk of overtourism,” he rejoices.

The cruise industry has long been criticized for its environmental impact. A study published in December 2021 in the scientific journal Marine Pollution Bulletin indicated that despite advances in technology, cruise ships affect the air, water, soil and fragile habitats for wildlife.

In Montreal, infrastructures have been put in place since 2017 to limit the negative environmental impact, underlined Mr.^me Nadeau.

An electrified break

The Port of Montreal has become the only one on the St. Lawrence to allow cruise ships to connect to the Hydro-Quebec electrical network.

THE Zaandam is one of the ships that have been modified to be able to be plugged in, when docked in port. “The electricity enters the engine room, so they can stop all the engines and it is the electricity that replaces the energy on board”, explains Jean-François Belzile, the director of maritime operations and port captain.

It shows the enormous wires which go from up to the monumental hull. Port of Montreal facilities can provide electricity at 6.1 or 11.6 kilovolts, depending on the ships.

A day at the quay without an engine for a cruise ship allows it to avoid releasing 5 tonnes of GHGs into the air at each connection. By way of comparison, an average Quebecer emits 10 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The Port of Montreal is the only one on the St. Lawrence to offer this option, and one of 25 to do so in the world. This year, of the 51 visits Montreal will receive from a cruise ship, 19 will be made by eight ships able to connect.

Better manage wastewater

Rules were also tightened last year regarding the discharge of sewage into the river, Belzile said.

Previously, between Quebec and Laval, part of the wastewater from the boats could be discharged into the river, he explains. However, this is no longer permitted.

Since 2017, the Port of Montreal has had a service to receive gray water (washing water) and black water (toilet discharges) which are then treated by the City’s purification facilities.

While the commotion to prepare the ship for its departure continues, cruise passengers take advantage of the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal.

They will continue to parade until the end of October, which, with its colorful foliage, represents the height of the cruise tourist season in Montreal.