The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new framework for cruise ships in the United States after the no-sail order in place since March 10 expired on October 31.
In order for shipping companies to resume sailing, they will need to go through a series of phases to recertify their navigation permit in U.S. waters, which will include:
- Establish a coronavirus testing laboratory on board.
- Organize a series of test cruises designed to demonstrate the cruise line's ability to mitigate COVID-19 on its ships. Volunteer passengers (who must be adults) will be informed of the risks involved. Both passengers and crew will undergo coronavirus testing at the terminal before boarding, and the CDC may order the cruise to be terminated immediately if any cases are detected on board. These cruises will test all standard cruise procedures: embarkation and disembarkation, onboard activities, restaurants, entertainment, excursions to private islands, evacuation procedures, procedures for transferring infected individuals from their cabins to isolation wards, quarantine of other passengers and non-essential crew members, etc.
- A certification process that meets the technical requirements and that has agreements with the local health authorities of the ports in which it will operate.
- Once those phases and certifications are completed, it could resume operations with real passengers.
While in Europe some companies have already started sailing applying basically the same measures but without trial cruises, such as TUI Cruises, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises, in the US several shipping companies have already announced the suspension of their cruises until 2021, although they could take advantage of the final months of the year to carry out those trial cruises with volunteer passengers.
The cruise industry in the U.S. employs more than 300,000 people and generates fifty billion dollars annually.
