The European Union has published a guide containing protocols and measures for cruise lines and destination ports to facilitate the resumption of cruise traffic, which is currently suspended or limited due to travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The guide is recommended for ships with a European flag or all cruises that make stops in European ports.
The guidelines have been developed by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to help ensure the safety of passengers and crews, and they ask shipping companies to develop their protocols jointly with ports to stipulate the actions to be taken in the event of an outbreak on board a cruise ship.
Among the hygiene, safety and social distancing measures included, protocols are recommended to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 both during embarkation and disembarkation, on board the cruise ship or at the destinations visited.
