Grand Cayman Bans Cruise Liners from Secondary Port Facility

Cruise ships have been banned from anchoring at a secondary dock facility in Grand Cayman because, according to a government official, their anchor chains have damaged coral reefs along the sea floor.

The Spotts Dock facility, about 10 minutes east of the main cruise ship facility in the capital of George Town, can be used as an alternative port when bad weather and rough seas prohibit cruise ships from calling in George Town.

The prohibition, which previously had been in place in early 2006, was reinstated again in late April when officials noted that cruise ships once more were anchoring there with regular frequency.

Spotts Dock was approved in late 2005 as a secondary cruise port when it was upgraded to meet the International Ship & Port Facility Security Code. However, the dock can handle only three tenders at a time, so the number of ships that can use the facility is limited.