In 2019, Port Otago submitted to the Department of Conservation (Doc), on behalf of Fiordland Pilot Services Ltd, for the construction of a staff accommodation building at the Deepwater Basin accommodation activity area in Fiordland National Park.
At the time, Port Otago marine and infrastructure general manager Sean Bolt said increasing pilotages and tourism was putting pressure on available accommodation and this facility provided a guaranteed place to sleep, rest and get meals.
"Increasing numbers of cruise ships means the requirement to have more trained and certified pilots — having a pilot is mandatory for cruise ships visiting any of the sounds."
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Port Otago project manager Jodi Taylor said the task was successfully completed last year.
The final concession from Doc was granted in June 2023 and construction began in Invercargill early last year.
The house was a small (90sqm) three-bedroom unit which could accommodate up to six people — however, most of the time it would only be used by two or three people.
Ms Taylor said the facility was built as modular units, with each unit — including the kitchen and bathroom — lined and fully fitted out.
"The house was assembled during the build process, before being disassembled into its modules and trucked to Milford.
"The modules were built to a size that would allow them to fit through the Milford [Homer] Tunnel. Final assembly, including the roof structure, was finished on site.
"This modular approach minimised the time the construction team need to spend in Milford and the building materials requiring transportation through to Milford Sound."
The project was completed in time for the first cruise visit of the 2024-25 season on October 15 and while she did not want to disclose the cost of the project, she said the per-square-metre build cost was similar to the average cost of a typical residential house.
While they were still in the middle of the cruise season, Ms Taylor said the facility had already proven to be worthwhile.
This season, 90 cruise ships were scheduled to visit Fiordland.
"Having a base for our pilots and the pilot launch team has made a huge difference.
"We can now handle any last-minute weather and schedule changes, because our team is able to stay on in Milford Sound as required — without the scramble of trying to find a bed in a very busy tourist location with limited facilities."
