THE growing importance of Cardigan Castle to the town’s economy was highlighted as it welcomed its first group of cruise ship passengers.

They had disembarked from the cruise ship Nautica, which docked in Fishguard last Tuesday morning (June 18) on its first visit to Cardigan Bay.

“Bringing international travellers to the castle and the town has been a strategic ambition of ours for quite some time,” said Cardigan Castle director Jac Davies.

“The passengers represented some 20 nations, although most were from the US.

“This has been a clear demonstration of how the castle has drawn visitors to Cardigan and from the conversations I’ve had, I’m pleased to hear that traders in the town have benefited.

“This is only the beginning, we’re looking forward to welcoming a second ship in July and hope to build on the success of this year in 2020.”

MS Nautica carries 684 passengers and more than 400 crew, on a wide variety of cruises around the world. Its clientele is primarily North American.

In November 2008, the cruise ship was travelling through an area of the Gulf of Aden patrolled by anti-piracy task forces when two small pirate skiffs began to approach the vessel.

The skiffs tried to intercept the Nautica’s course, but the captain Jurica Brajcic and his crew began evasive manoeuvres and were able to outrun the pirates.

One skiff did manage to fire eight rifle shots towards the Nautica, but no one aboard was harmed and no damage was sustained.

In September last year, Nautica’s visit to Greenock in Scotland saw the ship’s crew wrestle with the 102mph Storm Ali.

The Nautica became adrift from its moorings in the high winds, and was pulled back into port by two tugs. No guests or crew members were harmed.