POOLE'S bid to become a leading south coast destination for small cruise ships has taken a huge step forward with approval to deepen the main channel.

Breaking into the small to medium cruise ship market could boost the town's economy by £10-£15 million a year.

Dredging of Poole Harbour will also secure the future of the cross Channel ferry route and allow larger conventional cargo craft to dock at the trust port.

"This work is essential to the commercial future of the Port of Poole," said Jim Stewart, chief executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners.

A year ago he gave a stark "deepen or die" warning, as Defra considered an application to increase the depth of the main channel from 6m to 7.5m.

Now, after extensive studies and two years of work, dredging is due to begin in November and should be completed by Easter 2006. "The priority is the continuation of the ferry service," said Mr Stewart. "Without the channel deepening the long term function of that service would have been in doubt."

Now Brittany Ferries will be able to use larger ships able to take freight and passenger traffic.

PHC staff will fly to America later this year to tell cruise ship companies what Poole has to offer, launching a major marketing initiative.

Sixty per cent of all cruise ship passengers visiting south-west England are American, 20 per cent British and 15 per cent German.

"We don't want the huge cruise ships you get in Southampton, like the Aurora. They wouldn't fit in the harbour anyway," said Mr Stewart.

Currently Poole could take 15-16 per cent of the cruise ship fleet, such as the luxury cruise ship Hebridean Princess, which visited last November. After dredging the main channel and widening Middle Ship Channel, the port will be able to welcome 55-60 per cent of the fleet.

Bruce Grant-Braham, chairman of Poole's Tourism Management Board, welcomed the "big boost to the tourism economy", as did Cllr Ron Parker, portfolio holder for local economy, Borough of Poole.