Accessibility.SkipToMainContent
Health and safety

EU guide to safe resumption of cruise operations

6 August 2020

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has circulated new Covid-19 guidance for the safe resumption of cruiseship operations in the European Union.

Cruise shipping has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic with most of the world's cruises lines having suspended operations since mid-March when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international public health emergency. IMO estimates some 20,000 crew are also still stranded on passenger ships waiting to be repatriated.

Cruise operators need to ensure that restarted cruises do not pose unacceptable health risks to passengers, crew and the general public.

The 36-page three-part Covid-19 EU Guidance for Cruise Ship Operations has been drawn up by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). It is intended for EU/EEA flagged ships engaged in international voyages and for ships calling at an EU/EEA port, irrespective of flag.

Nautilus has consistently flagged safety concerns on crew fatigue due to manning levels and additional Covid-19 precautions.

The guidance recommends cruise operators should ensure that crew undertaking additional responsibilities as a result of the ship management plan are given adequate time in which to perform their additional tasks without detriment to their regular tasks or rest periods since this may impact on the general safety of the ship.

Cooperation between Flag and Port States is seen as essential to restart safe cruise operations. In general the Flag state is responsible for what happens onboard the ship, while the Port State is responsible for determining the requirements to be applied when a ship enters territorial waters.

Trade body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) estimates that at any given time, approximately 225,000 seafarers were normally sailing on CLIA cruise line ships around the world, in an industry that supports 1.17m jobs globally.

The guidance is in three parts: shipside, port and member state responsibilities and a framework for cooperation between cruise ships and ports before voyages and during outbreaks of the virus onboard.

Guidance part one includes developing a ship management plan, with risk assessment, responsibilities in relation to Covid-19 matters, resources and personnel needs, shipboard operations, and responses to outbreaks.

Part two includes guidance for a Covid-19 port management plan and member state coordination.

Part three covers guidance for cooperation between cruise ships and ports including voyage planning, disembarking for suspected Covid-19 cases and repatriation.

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) also its updated cruise ship travel guidance in a statement on Thursday 9 July 2020, which took account of its easing of travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Tags

More articles

International

New Covid test and quarantine exemption certificate for arrivals from Red List countries

Nautilus has updated its key worker exemption from mandatory quarantine and proof of negative Covid-19 test documentation, used by seafarers on arrival in the UK.

  • News
  • 14 January 2021
International

Cruise industry delays 2021 sailings due to ongoing Covid 19 crisis

Several large cruise companies have cancelled planned March 2021 sailings, and many won’t start now until April or May 2021 in a blow to industry plans to sail back to financial health.

  • News
  • 15 January 2021
International

Carnival UK to take delivery of £950m flagship newbuild

Carnival UK has confirmed it will take delivery of its newbuild £950m cruise ship Iona in the coming months, despite delaying the return of its 2020 cruise season following UK government advice.

  • News
  • 05 August 2020
Industrial

Bonus and training trade-offs mooted by Holland America Group amid pandemic crunch

Holland America Group (HA-Group) has flagged to unions that cuts in bonuses and training are likely across the group during its pandemic-induced 'operational pause'.

  • News
  • 05 August 2020
International

Crew hit by coronavirus outbreak on Norwegian expedition vessel

Norwegian passenger ferry company Hurtigruten stopped its expedition cruises along the Norwegian coast after a coronavirus outbreak that infected 36 crew and several passengers.

  • News
  • 04 August 2020
United Kingdom

Disappointment for Carnival UK as cruise season delayed further

Company extends pause in operations following government advice that cruise holidays are still too risky due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

  • News
  • 15 July 2020
United Kingdom

UK says cruise holidays still too risky

The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has reiterated its advice to British nationals against taking holidays on cruise ships.

  • News
  • 10 July 2020