The A$193m Channel Capacity Upgrade is Stage 1 of the A$1.64bn Townsville Port Expansion Project that will widen the shipping channels to accommodate larger ships.
A Carnival Australia spokesperson said P&O has five Townsville calls in 2018 and that its S-class ships can already berth alongside.
However, the spokesperson said, widening the channel will open the way for larger cruise ships to use the port and this will enable it to consider further exploring Townsville as a cruise destination in the future.
Port of Townsville Limited ceo Ranee Crosby said the project will future-proof the port.
Crosby said Townsville will be able to attract larger cruise ships that will provide a much needed boost to the local tourism industry.
Dredging work for channel widening could commence in 2018, subject to environmental approvals and final funding, meaning the region would begin to see larger ships visiting Townsville within two years.
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