I AM sure most people shared my joy in seeing two large grey ships appear alongside the Cairns port wharves on last Sunday morning.

The port was full of people of all ages trying to get a glimpse of the fascinating ships: the 257m-long USS Essex tied up at wharves 7/8 and the 186m USS Tortuga alongside wharves 2/3.

While they appeared like magic in the middle of the night, in fact, they only made it Cairns by the hard work and goodwill of the Cairns port community.

Pictures: USS Essex 

Talisman Sabre, a joint US and Australian military exercise, takes place about every two years along the Queensland coast, and Cairns Ports had been working with Australian and US military representatives since the last exercise to bring US ships to Cairns before the 2009 event.

USS Tortuga and USS Denver were booked to come between July 2-6, but because the larger USS Essex was unable to gain access to a berth in Townsville, Cairns had the opportunity to bring the ship to our city.

As a result, both USS Tortuga and USS Essex decided to extend their stays to eight days.

In the three to four days before their arrival, Cairns Ports staff, the regional harbour master, the local port pilots and existing port customers were working fervently to make it happen.

Pictures: Faces of the USS Essex

The channel was surveyed, the pilots and the regional harbour master undertook risk assessments to make sure the vessel could enter safely, two tugs from Mourilyan were brought to Cairns so that four tugs were available to bring this ship alongside and extensive security and crowd control was put in place.

The pilots and the regional harbour master took a number of helicopter trips with the US Navy to examine the port channel until finally the ships were successfully brought alongside early on Sunday morning.

Special thanks must go to a number of port users that changed their operations and moved their ships to other berths to allow the US ships to come alongside: thanks to International Purveyors Inc, Northern Stevedoring Services, Seaswift, Incitec Pivot, Svitzer Tugs and a number of reef fleet operators.

They, like the port, do not receive any financial return from the visit, (the port provides berths free of charge), but we all appreciate the benefits to the city in these hard times.

It was a great pleasure to welcome the commanding officers of the ships and the US Marine Corps to Cairns. Their genuine interest and the crew’s excitement at spending a week in our tropical paradise made me appreciate my good fortune in calling this place my home. Unfortunately, their appreciation of Australian culture, despite encouragement, did not go as far as watching the upcoming Ashes series. The concept of cricket over five days was too much for them.

The captains and crews of these ships will be great ambassadors for our region (if we can demonstrate the famous Australian hospitality).

Reader pictures: USS Essex in Cairns

The Port of Cairns, adjacent to the CBD, has always been a diversified port with a variety of traditional cargo operations combined with tourism, cruise and military facilities.

For 10 years there has been a recognised need to expand these facilities. It was on this basis that the port developed a comprehensive Cityport Masterplan, detailing a major urban revitalisation project that will deliver an attractive and innovative waterfront that combines world class marine, tourism and residential facilities.

The project is designed to meet the maritime demands of the city including reef fleet, superyachts, cruise vessels and international navy visits.

The Cityport project connects the CBD to the waterfront.

The timing of the military visits coincided with the opening of the Cityport South foreshore works to the public.

Both the crews and the Cairns public have been enjoying the improved waterfront access with the new pathways and public open areas.

This week, the port’s project and planning team have been working with consultants and cruise stakeholders in developing the design of the new cruise terminal for the city.

The State Government has committed $11.2 million towards the provision of a new cruise facility within the heritage Wharf Shed No. 2.

This exciting project will include the fendering on the wharves and an upgrade of the cruise terminal, creating pedestrian and vehicle linkages between the city and the terminal.

When finished in July 2010, this will be the ideal location for the growing cruise and military visitations to Cairns.

The port is in discussion with cruise companies seeking to increase the number of cruise vessels to Cairns and after the success of the USS Essex and USS Tortuga visit, we hope to attract more military ships in the future.

Wednesday was the start of a new era for the port with its expanded role in managing the ports in Far North Queensland to facilitate regional development.

I hope that in two year’s time and, maybe sooner, we can all wake to more large grey or white surprises alongside the wharves here in Cairns.

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