[ad_1]
As countries across the world scramble to close their borders in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, several cruise ships, some laden with thousands of passengers, are stranded on the high seas seeking a port at which they can dock.
The Norwegian Jewel, sailing under the flag of the Bahamas, has been refused permission to dock in French Polynesia, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, and is now piloting to American Samoa to refuel.
But no passengers will be allowed off the ship in Pago Pago and it is unclear where passengers will ultimately be permitted to disembark.
Unconfirmed reports are emerging that the ship may continue to Hawaii, where passengers will be allowed to leave.
Get the Latest on Coronavirus and the Travel Industry on Skift’s Liveblog
There are no suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus on board. The ship, with a capacity of more than 2,000 passengers, left Sydney in February.
But as countries close their borders to all visitors, or restrict the entry of cruise ships, the ocean liners are running out of ports where they will be accepted.
Australia has banned international cruise ship arrivals for 30 days, while the New Zealand government has announced a prohibition on cruise vessels from entering its territorial waters for more than three months.
Pacific nations have been unilaterally refusing permission for ships to berth for several weeks.
The MS Braemer, which has passengers with coronavirus on board, is similarly scrambling for a place to dock after being refused several ports of entry in the Caribbean.
Four passengers and one crew member have tested positive to the virus, while a further 20 passengers and 20 crew members, including a doctor, are in isolation after displaying influenza-like symptoms.
The Braemer is anchored about 25 miles south-west of Freeport in the Bahamas, waiting for clearance from local authorities to take aboard food, fuel and medical supplies. Two doctors and two nurses are also going to be taken on board to assist medical staff.
“All our supplies and medications are at the pier in Freeport,” said the captain, Jozo Glavic.
“They have been there since yesterday. We are still waiting for clearance for delivery. We will not go anywhere until we have the medical staff on board and these supplies arrive.
“I can tell you that our situation continues to be looked at as a matter of the utmost urgency between the UK government and our head office. Until then, please continue to bear with me and my crew.”
The ship’s owner, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said the company was working on “diplomatic discussions” to allow guests to disembark and head home as soon as possible.
Infection control on board ships has proven difficult. For several days in February, the ill-fated Diamond Princess which was put into isolation in Yokohama Port, Japan, after isolated cases where detected on board, was the second-largest outbreak site for coronavirus in the world, behind mainland China.
During a two-week enforced quarantine, nearly 700 people onboard were infected, and seven died. The quarantine was abandoned and crew and passengers ultimately disembarked (most were placed into a further fortnight’s quarantine in their home countries).
The Golden Princess, which left Melbourne on 10 March, is set to return to Australia.
While three passengers have been quarantined by the ship’s doctor, there are no confirmed cases on board.
One passenger developed coronavirus-like symptoms, while two others have had contact with a confirmed case in the past two weeks, before they boarded the ship.
The ship has been cleared to return to Australia.
Cruise lines including Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Fred Olsen Cruises have suspended voyages.
The industry’s peak body, Cruise Lines International Association Australasia, said it was working with federal and state governments as cruising lines brought their vessels back to port.
“As always, the health and safety of passengers and crew is the highest priority,” CLIA said. “As the Australian government has announced, all international arrivals by cruise ships to Australian ports will be suspended for 30 days, with provisions for vessels currently in operation.
“As many cruise lines had previously announced voluntary suspensions of their operations, the industry is already well advanced in returning ships to port. CLIA has been working closely with the government in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, and has been consulting with state and national health departments over the extensive measures enacted by the cruise industry globally.”
CLIA said the “unprecedented situation” brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic would impact not only guests and crew, but also the destinations that cruise lines visit, and whose economies were dependent on the tourists the ships bring.
“Despite challenging times, we are confident our industry has the resilience to overcome this situation in the longer term.”
This article was written by Ben Doherty from The Guardian and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
[ad_2]
Source link