HUGE cruise liners will become an increasing sight at a port as new energy work is complemented by lucrative leisure business, its boss has said.

The Port of Tyne yesterday oversaw the busiest ever day at its International Passenger Terminal as five vessels and thousands of passengers docked in the region.

The fleet included the Koningsdam, larger than the QE2 at 297.2 metres, which became the biggest liner to visit the port.

The port expects to welcome a record 43 cruisers this year, pumping an estimated £50m into the local economy.

However, chief executive, Andrew Moffat, told The Northern Echo next year’s tally will exceed its current arrivals list.

He said: “We have increased the number of vessels and more than 50 are already booked in for next year.

“The market is growing and we are getting a growing share.

“It’s great for the port and even better for the region; we’ve got people from the US, Canada and Korea.

“These services are important because of the economic value added when they go to attractions we know and love, such as Alnwick Castle.

“The impact on the local economy is estimated at around £50m each year, supporting 1,700 jobs.”

Mr Moffat said the port’s visitors, which also include the Aida Vita, Seven Seas Voyager, DFDS King Seaways and Astor, brought an estimated 10,000 passengers and crew into the North-East and were supplementing new energy industry moves.

The port is ploughing on with plans to replace a dramatic reduction in coal imports with wood pellets.

Building new facilities to handle, store and transport pellets for Lynemouth Power Limited, which is converting a power station in Northumberland from coal to biomass, bosses say the venture will create and support jobs for years to come.

The drop in demand for fossil fuels, led by the Government’s decision to phase out coal-fired power plants, means traditional shipments of coals to Newcastle are being replaced by pellets.

However, Mr Moffat said the port’s endeavour will create a long-term future, adding any further coal work is dependent on Government energy policy.

He said: “(We think) the coal is not coming back but there is a lot of speculation about what will happen.

“We are not putting any coal volumes in our plans, but we will keep our capability for some time should the situation change.

“Work is underway on the wood pellets development and we are really pleased.”