WA’s cruise ship industry is facing a crisis, with inadequate port infrastructure causing Australia’s biggest ocean liner group to leave the State.

The West Australian can reveal the biggest liner group in Australian waters, Carnival Cruises, has told the State Government it will no longer use Fremantle as a home port because of the conditions and reliability of WA ports.

The decision means P&O superliners will no longer be based in Fremantle, putting at risk crew visits and regional cruise trips that had attracted thousands to WA over the past few years.

As a result, by the 2018-19 season, WA will lose dozens of cruises. The Government estimates the loss will result in a $130 million hole in the State’s economy.

In 2016-17, 60 cruises were scheduled for the season, but by 2018-19 the Government expected just 17.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the previous government had ignored several pleas from Carnival Australia to improve several regional ports.

The West understands that among the concerns were ship access to the channel in Broome which limited time onshore, a lack of shore tension units in Geraldton, and, most urgently, reliable land side berthing or progress on a floating dock in Exmouth, where, because of port infrastructure, up to half of stops were missed in recent years.

Camera Icon The Marina Bay cruise ship terminal in Singapore. Credit: Picture: Supplied

“This is an absolute crisis,” Mr Papalia said.

“Already we have suffered a loss and I have unashamedly lay that at the feet of the former government.

“They were notified and fully aware of it and they clearly did not take enough action to satisfy the cruise ship industry.”

Also of concern was outdated facilities at Fremantle, Mr Papalia said.

“It’s a very old terminal, it’s a carpark and you’ve got a long walk over the railway tracks to get to anything,” he said. “There’s nothing attractive about berthing a cruise ship alongside Fremantle at the moment, beyond when you eventually come ashore.”

Carnival Australia corporate affairs vice president Sandy Olsen said despite the decision, there would still be cruises on offer.

“While P&O Cruises will not base a ship from Fremantle next year, Western Australia will still benefit from almost 20 calls from other Carnival Australia cruise lines,” she said.

“From our discussions, Mr Papalia is determined to create a thriving tourism sector in Western Australia and sees the economic value cruising delivers, particularly to regional areas.

“We want to keep returning to Western Australia and will work with the Government to maintain the focus on the long-term success of the State’s cruise market.”

Camera Icon Cruise ships at the Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver. Credit: Picture: Canada Place

Shadow tourism minister Libby Mettam confirmed the previous government had met cruise liner industry representatives, and said they had committed to $1 million for the shore tension units in Geraldton.

“The previous Government committed to ensure towns such as Esperance, Geraldton, Exmouth and Broome would benefit from regular cruise ship visits, and the opportunities this would present for local businesses and tourism operators to further highlight Western Australian attractions,” she said.

During the election campaign, Labor committed to redevelop the Fremantle terminal and install the shore tension units in Geraldton.

Mr Papalia said it was too late to reverse the decision for the 2017-18 season, which will see 46 cruises in WA, but work had started on fixing Carnival’s concerns to entice them back for 2018-19.

Play Video Take a look inside the biggest cruise ship to visit Australia. The West Australian Video Take a look inside the biggest cruise ship to visit Australia.

“We will do everything we can to return to home porting the next year,” he said.

“I’ve already commenced work with other ministers for Transport and Regional Development, to try and address the issues that they’ve identified and we will present them with a solid argument that we’re totally committed to the cruise ship industry.”