Halifax port sees more cruise ships in 2015 than ever before

Halifax had more visits from cruise shipsinthe 2015 season than ever before, according to the city's port authority.

The authority released its latest numbers on Friday, and also highlightedincreases in the number of cruise ship passengers over last year and how muchthe Nova Scotia economy benefited from the industry.

Here are the numbersrecorded between April and November:

• Vessel calls: 141 in 2015 versus 134 last year
• Passengers: 222,309 in 2015 versus 217,305 last year
• Economic impact: $104 million versus $50million last year

While passenger totals rose over last year, it's not the highest number to ever enter Halifax during a season, according toPort of Halifax spokesmanLane Farguson.

"We saw more smaller vessels this year than we had in previous years and while it increases the number of vessel calls, it doesn't necessarilyhave the same number of passengers," he said.

He said the Pearl Mistoperated by Pearl Seas docked in Halifax eight times this season. It has a 210-passenger capacity, much smaller than large ships that carry more than 2,000.

Smaller vessels have an easier time travelling to ports of all sizes, Ferguson said, which helps spread economic benefitsaround the region.

"Cruise is one of thoseinteresting ones where you have to work together as a region," he said. "It's not enough for Halifax to be a strong port, you have to have strong offerings in Sydney and in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Corner Brook, Newfoundland."

Economic impact

The port authorityquantifies economic impact in partby how much passengers spend in the area and how much it costs to stock up a cruise ship with provisions.

Last year, the port authority pegged the economic impact at $50million, however that was based on spending numbers from 2008.This year's amount of $104 millionis based on updated data from 2013.

"That's not economic benefit for the Port of Halifax specifically, but it's for the entire region when you factor in how much the passengers are spendingon tours and on restaurants and the provisioning that takes place," Farguson said.

"So the group that might be selling lobster or liquor to those cruise ships when they come into port. Plus the amount the port authority earns off of the passenger tariff and the berthing fees and all that."