Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge today the possibility of introducing a regular cruise ship service during the Island's off-season.

Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority project director Mr. Gilbert Dannehower is courting cruise lines in an attempt to revive the city's once bustling passenger ship port.

Mr. Dannehower said the seaport died in the 1940s when all available passenger ships were requisitioned by the US government for the war effort.

"They never came back,'' he said, adding, "We are now trying to regain a share of the cruise market.'' The Authority has unveiled plans to turn a state office building on the waterfront into a modern cruise ship terminal.

Tour and Travel News reported last month, however, that Jacksonville "is only the latest Florida seaport aiming for a slice of the $5 billion-a-year cruise industry.'' But Mr. Dannehower said Jacksonville has a lot to offer. He said it is a "major transportation hub'' with direct flights to its newly-renovated airport from a number of cities in the south.

He added that according to recent surveys the market Jacksonville could attract -- which would include residents of such cities as Dallas, New Orleans, Raleigh and Charleston -- was "bigger and richer'' than the greater New York area, whose cruise market he said was "over-saturated.'' And he said Jacksonville was a lot closer to Bermuda than other Florida cities to the south of it.

Mr. Dannehower added that cruise liners could only operate out of New York six months a year due to rough winter weather. But in the south, he pointed out, the weather is milder making a longer cruise season possible.

"It is a new market that is untapped by Bermuda,'' he said.

Despite the fact the option of allowing a fifth cruise ship to make regular visits to Bermuda cannot be exercised until 1994 because of a restrictive contract, Mr. Dannehower said that contract does not apply to cruise ships calling in the off season.

He said he will also attempt to sell Tourism officials on the idea of a weekend cruise ship out of Jacksonville in the summer or winter.

Mr. Dannehower said cruise lines he has spoken with so far have been "very receptive'' to the idea of operating a ship out of Jacksonville and are looking into the possibilities.

He is staying at Glencoe Harbour Club with Jacksonville Council president Mr.

Warren Jones until the end of the week.