Cruise liners in Cobh told not to use their public address systems at night to avoid disturbing residents

CRUISE liners visiting the cruise terminal in Cobh are being warned not use their public address systems at night to avoid disruption to residents sleeping in the town.

The Port of Cork who operates the terminal has issued a notice to mariners on board vessels visiting Cobh Cruise Terminal that the use of external public-address systems for non-emergency use is prohibited during the hours of darkness (or from 8pm to 8am whichever the greater amount of time).

“At all times, the use of public-address systems on external decks is to be used at a reduced volume, so as not to affect the amenity of residents living nearby to the terminal,” the Harbour Master Paul O’Regan said.

“If the volume of the vessel’s external public-address system cannot be adjusted, it must be isolated for the duration of the stay (apart from use in an emergency).”

Cobh and Cork Harbour is expecting 100 liners this year, one of the busiest ever.

This Sunday will see the arrival of the MSC Meraviglia making her maiden call to Cobh carrying 4,500 passengers on board.

The Meraviglia is the fourth-largest cruise ship in the world when it debuted in June last year.

It was built by MSC Cruises at its shipyard in France and weighs more than 171,000 tonnes.

It has a promenade with a LED roof, a water park complete with water slides and a Himalayan rope course. Onboard entertainment options include a theatre and a Cirque du Soleil show.

The Meraviglia set out from Germany last Sunday and will visit two UK ports and Dublin before reaching Cork.

In total 68 cruise liners called to Cork Harbour last year with 140,000 passengers and crew on board.

Cobh was also ranked second favourite cruise destination in the British Isles and Western Europe in the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards.