Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Industry mourns Capt. John Foley, Australian reef pilot and Queensland cruise ambassador

c7d81d6561d02fd68c8a2b322c94719c_XL
Passionate about the cruise industry
The industry will be greatly saddened by the news that Capt. John Foley died early this morning.

Foley, a regular face at what is now Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, was a leading light in promoting Queensland as a cruise ship destination.

He had a 38-year career as a Great Barrier Reef pilot and was cruise ship coordinator for leading marine pilotage company Australian Reef Pilots.

He was honorary cruise ambassador for Tourism Events Queensland and snr strategic adviser for the Brisbane Cruise Terminal.

He developed several new cruise ship destinations in Great Barrier Reef waters and was a consultant to cruise ship operators on Great Barrier Reef itineraries.

A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, he was an accomplished shipboard lecturer and the author of five books. His topics included Captain James Cook, the Bounty saga, the Great Barrier Reef and the history and people of the Torres Strait.

Cruise Down Under ceo Jill Abel said Foley had an ‘unbelievable passion for cruising in Australia’ and had been ‘an absolute diamond’ in the industry.

Abel paid tribute to ‘the amazing contribution’ Foley had given to Cruise Down Under.

‘We will miss him,’ she said.