Will I Fit?

Will I Fit?

   The clearance between the deck of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the waters underneath is 49 metres. This was more than adequate to allow all but the largest ocean liners to fit under it however with the recent rapid growth in cruise shipping, only small to medium cruise ships (and the occasional tanker) steam under its graceful arch. 

Amadea departing Sydney with the help of a tug.

The former Royal Princess, now cruising as Artania passing under the bridge.

Astor easily passing under the bridge.

The Dawn Princess and its sisters, Ocean & Sea Princess are the largest ships to regularly sail under the bridge however they can only do so at low tide when the clearance between the bottom of the deck and the top of the mast is 2 metres. 

With the assistance of a tug, the Silver Shadow  departs Sydney. This view was taken from under the North pylon, the first three photos were taken from under the South pylon.

Similar Sisters

Pacific Venus docked at Darling Harbour, the old terminal for smaller cruise ships.

For two consecutive years, Sydney was visited by the Pacific Venus, a 26,518 ton cruise ship built in 1998 in Japan. Operated by a consortium of 2 ferry companies, the ship runs on a variety of cruises, mainly within South-East Asia and has voyaged as far as Amsterdam. The design is utilitarian with 696 passengers being catered by 180 crew.

Delphin Voyager docked at Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour.

Delphin Voyager bears a striking similarity to the Pacific Venus, this is because the ship started life as the Orient Venus, built in 1990 in the same shipyard and for the same owners as the above ship. Slightly smaller, at 21,906 tons and accommodating 606 passengers, the Orient Venus was sold and refitted in 2006. The observation lounge around the funnel was enlarged and additional passenger accommodation was built into the after decks. The ship currently operates in the Mediterranean as the Aegean Paradise.