Reason for Seven Seas Explorer not docking in Burnie remains unclear

On January 18, Burnie City Council reported on their Facebook page that due to unavailable Australian Border Force services in Burnie to undertake the clearance of the Seven Seas Explorer on January 22, the ship, which was travelling from New Zealand, would look to gain clearance in Melbourne instead.

"Burnie City Council understands that it is disappointing for our volunteers, artisans and businesses when cruise ships cancel, given the effort they go to in making cruise ship tourists welcome into our city," the council's general manager Simon Overland said.

"Unfortunately, this is an aspect of the cruise ship industry where schedules change for a variety of reasons.

"We are pleased that cruise ship visits have resumed after the break caused by COVID.

"While it is disappointing that some ship visits have cancelled, we should not lose sight of the positive bigger picture."

An Australian Border Force spokesperson confirmed they were prepared for the ship's arrival.

"ABF was prepared and ready to deploy ample officers to facilitate the arrival of the Seven Seas Explorer into Burnie on January 22," the spokesperson said.

"On January 16, the ABF was advised via a shipping agent that the Seven Seas Explorer will no longer be berthing in Burnie.

"ABF engages closely with the cruise ship industry in order to perform its statutory function of the processing of passengers at the Australian border."

TasPorts group executive Kate Dean confirmed it had nothing to do with Australian Border Force.

"TasPorts has clarified that the decision not to berth the Seven Seas Explorer at the Port of Burnie on Sunday, January 22 was made by the cruise line and not as a result of unavailability of Australian Border Force services to process passengers arriving from New Zealand," she said.

The cruise line was contacted for comment.