BAR HARBOR – Cruise ship business in Maine continued to grow in 2003, generating almost 600 jobs and $31 million in direct spending, according to a new study released Tuesday.

By far, the busiest port of call continued to be Bar Harbor, which welcomed 78 ships last year and nearly 100,000 passengers, up from 64 ships in 2002.

This year, 87 cruise liners will stop in Bar Harbor, including the majestic Queen Mary 2 on Sept. 27.

“It’s increased every year I’ve been here,” Harbor Master Charlie Phippen said of the steady rise in cruise ship visits to Bar Harbor.

But while Bar Harbor and Portland get the largest ships, smaller ports such as Belfast, Bucksport and Bangor also will see increased business this year from American Cruise Line, which expanded its service to a 10-week schedule.

The American Glory, one of two small cruise ships operated by American Cruise Line, is scheduled to make nine visits to Bangor this year, where passengers can board for a seven-night cruise down the Maine coast.

The American Glory can carry no more than 49 passengers, while the largest ships, such as the Queen Mary 2 and Jewel of the Sea, for example, can accommodate 2,500 passengers or more.

“The ports and harbors of Maine are becoming an increasingly important economic generator for the state’s tourism industry,” Amy Powers, director of the CruiseMaine Coalition, said Tuesday as the new cruise numbers were being released in all 50 states. Florida, which attracts half of all cruise travelers in the world, brought in $4.7 billion in 2003.

“As [Maine’s] cruise business continues to grow,” Powers added, “the local economic benefits in jobs and direct spending will increase accordingly.”

The estimates on job creation and passenger spending were reached by using standard government formulas for direct and indirect spending.

Using those formulas, the International Council of Cruise Lines in Arlington, Va., estimated the average Maine salary for industry-related jobs at $30,468.

Cruise-related salaries totaled $16 million last year in Maine, according to the new report.

Maine was among a handful of states highlighted in the report because “it’s a growing port of call” for ships of all sizes, said Christine Fischer, communications director for International Council of Cruise Lines.

Fischer said cruise lines are expanding the number of ports across the nation to make it more convenient for passengers to board directly, rather than driving or flying to the departure port.

Seattle, Boston and Philadelphia are among the cities where cruise ships are looking to expand their ports, Fischer said.

“This has proved very successful,” she said.

For more information on Maine’s cruise industry, or for a copy of the International Council of Cruise Lines’ annual report, call the CruiseMaine Coalition at 892-0709 or visit its Web site at cruisemaineusa.com.