PORTLAND Port says it is expecting a 23 per cent increase in cruise ship visitors this year as preparations continue for a controversial asylum seeker barge.

It comes after a pair of cruise ships with nearly 1,700 passengers between them called into the Dorset port at the weekend.

The Holland America Lines’ MS Zuiderdam, an American vessell, and Hurtigruten’s MS Otto Sverdrup, from Norway, both made their inaugural visits to the port when they stopped on consecutive days on April 15 and 16. 

Dorset Echo: A cruise ship from Norway also made its way into Portland Port at the weekendA cruise ship from Norway also made its way into Portland Port at the weekend (Image: Zoe Ayton)

Their visits came as Portland Port prepares for cruise liners to bring a record number of passengers to Dorset this year.

Passengers from the ships went on excursions elsewhere in Dorset to locations such as Abbotsbury, Portland Bill, the Jurassic Coast, Bovington and Corfe Castle.

Nearly 80 per cent went on excursions in the county or were able to explore the area using the port’s shuttle bus service, with the remainder going further afield.

Bill Reeves, chief executive of Portland Port, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Zuiderdam and Otto Sverdrup on their first visits to Dorset.

“While some passengers went on trips to Stonehenge or Salisbury, the majority went on organised excursions in the south Dorset area, or stayed in the local area.

“We are expecting a bumper season of cruise calls with the most passengers annually in a decade of calls at Portland Port.

"We are expecting about 130,000 visitors this year, a 23 per cent increase over last year.

“Our new berth development is due to come into operation within the next few weeks, which will further allow us to grow our capacity, provide an even warmer welcome and build upon the £10million our cruise calls contribute to the local economy every year.”

Preparations for the arrival of the next cruise ships continue amid plans for a controversial Home Office barge for refugees which is set for the port, a former naval base.

The Government confirmed earlier this month that the barge will host more than 500 asylum seekers on Portland.

Mr Reeves said: “We are proud of the strong and diverse business we have built over nearly 30 years, including long-standing relationships with different government departments.

“As the port operator, we have a vested interest in ensuring the safe, secure and successful arrival and operation of the refugees’ safe haven.

“We continue to work with the Home Office and local agencies to minimise its impact on local public services and maximise the benefit of its stay.

“It is important for us to support the Home Office and play our part in the national effort in housing some of the thousands of refugees in need of accommodation.”