News

U.S. Coast Guard provides an update of cruise ship disembarkations, evacuations

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 06 April 2020 06 April 2020

On Friday, April 3, the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam offloaded more than 1,200 passengers in Port Everglades, Fla. These developments, combined with one remaining disembarkation being coordinated, represents the processing of more than 120 vessels in the last three weeks to remove 250,000 passengers from cruise ships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement published on Saturday.

The Coast Guard, under guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and working with Department of Homeland Security partners Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as well as state and local entities from multiple port jurisdictions, facilitated the safe landing, screening, quarantine and repatriation of these passengers in a manner that has prevented further spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many passengers were brought to safe harbor in the United States when international ports refused entry.

Most of the cruise line industry announced a voluntarily suspension of cruise ship operations from U.S. ports of call on March 13th, and the CDC issued a “No Sail” Order on March 14th to all cruise ships that had not voluntarily suspended operations.

“We commend the decision by the cruise industry to cease operations. However, pausing a global tourist industry does not happen instantaneously or easily,” said Vice Admiral Dan Abel, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations. “The Federal, state, local and industry cooperation to achieve this feat truly represents the whole-of-nation approach directed by the President and is essential to fighting the spread of this virus and working to minimize the loss of life.”

The drawdown of passenger operations is a major milestone, but it does not eliminate U.S. government concerns for cruise ships and their crews.

There are 114 cruise ships, carrying 93,000 crew members, either in or near U.S. ports and waters. This includes 73 cruise ships, with 52,000 crew members, moored or anchored in U.S. ports and anchorages. Another 41 cruise ships, with 41,000 crew members, are underway and still in vicinity of the United States. The cruise industry has an ongoing obligation for the care, safety and welfare of their seafarers.

The Coast Guard is a lifesaving service, and since March 7th, when COVID-19 cases on cruise ships operating around the U.S. escalated, the service has enabled 31 life-saving medevacs.

Saudi fund takes 8.2% stake in Carnival Corporation – report

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 06 April 2020 06 April 2020

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has acquired an 8.2% stake in Carnival Corporation, the Panama domiciled and US listed holding company in the Carnival Corporation & plc group, the Bloomberg news agency reports.

Shares in the company and in its UK counterpart soared on the news.

The fund had acquired 43.5 million shares in the company that were worth $369.4 million at their closing price on Friday.

However, the shares soared to trade 22% higher at $10.41 at around midday, New York time.

Carnival plc, the UK listed and domiciled holding company in the group, closed 16.5% higher at £7.16.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines donates 17.6 tonnes of food to Barbados charities

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines; Published: 06 April 2020 06 April 2020

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the UK based destination focused cruise line, said it has been working with its Port Agent in Barbados, Caribbean, Platinum Port Agency Inc. and the Barbados Port to support local charities with a donation of fresh produce from a container of food supplies intended for its ship, Braemar, which was left in Bridgetown after the port call had to be cancelled.

“Fred. Olsen decided to donate the container – comprising 18 pallets / 17,598kg of chilled fruit and vegetables – to a number of deserving local charities, with the kind co-operation of the Barbados Port. These included the YWCA, Barbados Homeless Society and The Red Cross, as well as the Salvation Army and St. Dominic’s Catholic Church children’s feeding program,” the company said in a statement.

Peter Deer, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We did not want this container of perfectly good fresh produce to go to waste, as there are so many deserving causes in Barbados, and we knew that they could make use of it to benefit a great many local people in these difficult and challenging times. We are just happy that we were able to help to make a difference on the island in this small way, and we thank our partners in Barbados for making this happen.”

Senator Lisa Cummins, Chairman of the Barbados Port, said: “We very much appreciate this donation and engaged with local partners like the YWCA, who have local feeding programs. We have been able to provide food supplies for 130 families and boosted The Red Cross ‘Meals on Wheels Program’, giving valuable support to our most vulnerable families. During this crisis, we have had no end of traumatic stories. But we have also had wonderful stories of people helping others in difficult times. This is one of those wonderful stories. Thank you to the Fred. Olsen team on behalf of the Barbados Port and our local communities for making this special donation.”