What is happening about the dredging of the harbour? For the past 12 years I have been asked this question on an almost weekly basis, writes David Barnicoat.

For the latest information I put the question to Captain Mark Sansom, Harbour Master and chief executive of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners. He said: “We are in ongoing discussions with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Natural England with regards to the Falmouth Harbour dredging application. It is a complex matter and we will continue to work closely with all parties to ensure that the MMO has sufficient information to re-consider its appropriate assessment in due course.”

In other words the paperwork continues to get shuffled backwards and forwards by all parties as they play environmental table tennis. There appears to be a distinct lack of optimism in Captain Sansom’s statement. The words “ongoing” and in “due course” give the impression that a decision by the MMO is far away over the horizon.

With just a month to go before the European cruise ship season starts Falmouth is going to witness one of its worst years for cruise ship visits with just 19 calls as the port appears to have lost favour with some companies. Competition amongst European ports to woo the cruise lines is immense with new ports jumping on the bandwagon all the time.

For example, across the water at Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, there are plans to change the focus of a once thriving ferry port into a cruise ship port. Its first cruise ship called in 2012 with this year being the busiest to date with 22 calls scheduled including those from P&O Cruises’ new building Britannia, Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, Windstar Cruises’ Star Legend and Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess (nine calls).

The planned deep water berth in Dun Laoghaire will have a minimum depth of ten metres and be capable of handling cruiseships up to 340 metres long.

A full planning application and environmental impact statement is currently being finalised and is due for submission to the planning authority in the next couple of months. Subject to receipt of planning approval this year, the facility should be operational for the 2017 cruise season.

South West ports will, overall, have another busy year this year.

Former A&P Falmouth port operations director Mike Reynolds, now executive director of Destination South West, said: “2014 was a great year for attracting cruise calls to the region and we are looking forward to an even better 2015.

“We are competing with over 200 other ports across northern Europe to attract cruise calls and the cruise lines have come to realise what a fantastic place the South West is to bring their passengers.” Destination South West is made up of nine member ports including Falmouth.

The organisation said: “Destination South West Ports are once again looking forward to another successful year of cruise ships visiting the south west coast of England via their nine member ports. During 2014, 103 cruise ships called to the member ports bringing 72,000 passengers and 15,000 crew to the Region. 2015 will see an increase of 18 per cent in the number of calls to the ports with 123 calls expected in the region.

“The Isles of Scilly is the most popular call with 45 ships and Portland will see the most passengers due to the larger ships that they are able to handle. With competitive harbour charges and a growth in excursion packages, cruise calls to the Isles of Scilly are frequently staying two, and sometimes three nights, within its safe harbour due to its unique and breathtaking environment.”