ROCKLAND — The city of Rockland could pick up an additional $35,000 (rough estimate), next fall, but only if City Councilors approve a one-time waiver permitting an additional 3,000-passenger cruise ship to visit Rockland Harbor in 2023.

Currently, Rockland’s passenger ship ordinance is capped at six for the number of cruise ships carrying between 501 and 3,000 passengers that can dock in one autumn season, September 1 – October 31, with a one day leeway on either side. One request for Fall 2023  has been submitted for a vessel carrying more than 3,000 passengers. That vessel has a low berth capacity of 3,098 and a high berth capacity of 3,977.

“I do not wish to generally override the citizens of Rockland, and the will of the citizens of Rockland,” said interim Harbor Master Molly Eddy. “They have proposed a passenger limit on the cruise ships and how many we are going to have in Rockland. However, being that we only have six vessels that have requested to come in, in that size range, I feel that it is in Rockland’s best interest to issue a waiver, to allow this one vessel to come in next fall.”

Rockland harbor and waterfront is one of the departments that brings in steady income for the City of Rockland.

Rockland charges $10 per passenger for each ship that visits. Adding the Emerald Princess, Eddy believes that the City could generate around $130,000 just from these six vessels. That money ultimately ends up in a reserve account for the City. However, Eddy has inherited a large quantity of deferred maintenance with the department’s dock infrastructure. For example, one of the larger docks broke, due to age, as it was being removed from the water.

“I’m in the process of getting the necessary requirements for that to happen,” she said. “But it’s not the last one that’s going to happen. So, having a little extra income next fall seems like it would be a boon to Rockland.”

The first of what Rockland considers a large cruise ship is scheduled to arrive on August 31, 2023. The Emerald Princess would arrive halfway through September, and the final ship would dock in mid-October.

In response to a question by Council Adam Lachman, Eddy said the large cruise ship industry usually books a full year in advance. Season 2024 already has more than six requests, and tourist agencies are currently waiting for Rockland’s confirmation.

“My intention is to start looking at the vessels that are bringing in the most income, and the agencies that also create the least amount of problems,” said Eddy.

Council Penny York asked if the Emerald Princess visit coincides with any major Rockland events, and was reassured that there won’t be any other events during the visit’s timeframe, which might otherwise overwhelm the city because of 3500 additional people.

City Councilors will revisit this waiver request at its next meeting, Monday, Dec. 12, starting at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers.

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com