There has been one cruise ship in Port Kembla before but it was much smaller and only stopped to refuel.

So when thousands of visitors alight in October next year, it is going to be an opportunity to test Wollongong’s ability and potential to host more mega-liners full of international and Australian tourists.

NSW Ports executive general manager commercial Dom Figliomeni said considerable planning would continue to ensure the first visit ran so smoothly the operator, Royal Caribbean, would want to do more.

Mr Figliomeni said Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT) was very supportive and happy to work with the port and all parties to make it happen.

And he did not expect cruise ships would significantly impact any Navy activities if Wollongong was successful with that campaign.

‘‘With the Navy at this stage ... we don’t know what the task is there so it is very hard to comment,’’ he said.

Mr Figliomeni said considerable work had been done preparing for the Radiance of the Seas’ first visit.

‘‘It will use berths 105 and 106,’’ he said. ‘‘They are 510 metres and given the size of this vessel of approximately 300 metres, it will effectively occupy both of those berths. It will basically take those berths up for a 12-hour period.’’

And Mr Figliomeni does not rule out the port’s potential to welcome even larger vessels.

‘‘It depends on simulation modelling but definitely 300 metres plus is a possibility,’’ he said.

And that would position Port Kembla as an option to handle any overflow from Sydney.’’

Port Authority of NSW chief operating officer and harbour master Kell Dillon said that was why this was such a great opportunity for Port Kembla.

Mr Dillon said some of the cruise ships around the world were so big they could not get under Sydney Harbour Bridge.

‘‘The ones that can’t are really limited to the overseas passenger terminal,’’ he said.

‘‘They all want to go there so that can cause congestion at times. And Royal Caribbean just really want to have something up their sleeve if there is a congestion with overflow. They were interested in looking at us for a number of reasons.’’

Mr Figliomeni believes people will line the foreshore when Radiance of the Seas arrives around 6am.

‘‘It will be exciting to watch it come in,’’ he said.

‘‘We need to make sure it is safe and able to be handled in the port so there was a lot of simulation modelling.

 ‘‘There has also been  discussion with our tenants because we need to make sure our other responsibilities on freight are not compromised.’’

Mr Figliomeni said cruise ships were a different focus and such a vessel did have different requirements but the port had the capacity to handle both.

Discussions about the logistics of how passenger movement would be managed had already started.

Mr Figliomeni expects that will also create work for locals.

‘‘It is crucial for NSW Ports to ensure that it does continue to create economic activity for the region,’’ he said.‘‘From the passenger side there’scapacity to handle more vessels. That is something we are discussing. Port Kembla is a very diversified port and this just demonstrates the activities that can take place here. We are one of the deepest water ports on the east coast and we can provide a lot of opportunities for new business and new industry to establish here.’’