PLANS to bring more cruise ships to Portland Port will boost tourism in the resort.

A luxury cruise company has announced it is expanding the number of ships stopping at the port and negotiations are underway to encourage more liners there next year.

Portland Port director Rupert Best has welcomed the news that Hebridean Island Cruises' ship Hebridean Princess will be docking at the port for the first time in November this year and hopes this will be the first of an influx of ships to Portland.

This comes only two weeks after plans were unveiled for the cruise boat Maid of the Harbour, operated by Brownsea Island Ferries, to sail from Weymouth next year. And it follows an emergency stop at the port last week by the Saga Pearl ship when more than 300 passengers poured into the resort.

Mr Best said: "We hope more cruise liners will be visiting us next year.

"We were set back by 9/11 and now we are building up the number of ships coming here. We want to encourage more ships to the South-West by using Portland as a base.

"Portland is well-placed because ships can get alongside, unlike places like Fowey, and has links to centres of population."

"People on board will visit local attractions when they stop here and tourism will profit from it."

Five cruise liners used the port last week including the Hebridean Spirit, Sea Cloud II and the Saga Pearl liner.

Mr Best wants to increase the number of ships stopping at Portland for day trips as well as 'turnarounds' - where customers embark at the port and return there.

He has been in talks with marketing organisation Destination South West to include Portland in its promotions programme starting from next spring.

He believes the isle is ideally situated to be included in short cruises though the English Channel.

Hebridean Island Cruises' marketing and sales manager Peter Williams said the five-star cruiser Hebridean Spirit's three-day cruises to France, the Scilly Island and South West England - which stop at Portland - has proved successful.

He added: "We have also found that some passengers have joined for a double cruise and that allows them not only to visit more destinations but also to take advantage of the day in Portland to see some of the attractions in Dorset."