First port agreements signed to restart cruise travel in Hawaii
Posted on Jan 4, 2022 in Ports news, Mainly, Messages
Cruise ships must have tests and medical skills on board and have agreed to adhere to additional restrictions if necessary.
HONOLULU – The Harbors Division of the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) announces the completion of the first port agreements with Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) to formalize health and safety protocols for the operation of cruise ships in the state of Hawaii.
According to the CDC order (copy available from https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/covid19-cruiseships.html), which expires on January 15, cruise ships with a capacity of more than 250 people (passenger and crew) and itineraries including overnight stays must enter into a formal port agreement with the local port and health authorities. The port agreement must contain:
- Medical agreement to evacuate passengers or crew members in need of care
- Accommodation arrangement should require quarantine or isolation of passengers or crew members
- Recognize the public health resources of the local jurisdictions and vaccination strategies implemented by the cruise lines to minimize the risk of the spread of COVID-19
The CDC order requires that every ship have tests and medical personnel on board to ensure adequate prevention, damage control and response protocols and training. Additionally, Carnival and NCL have committed to full vaccination rates in addition to pre-board tests and on-board safety and cleaning protocols.
In addition to cruise line and CDC requirements, the state of Hawaii will require participation on the state’s Safe Travels digital platform to upload vaccination records or negative test results for cruise lines arriving in Hawaii from outside the state. Participation in Safe Travels does not apply to cruise ships sailing between the islands.
The signed port agreements apply regardless of the expiration of the CDC order until they are replaced by a new agreement. The agreement also allows the state to suspend, revoke or amend the document at any time if the situation changes. The districts can also introduce additional restrictions at any time.
“Developing these agreements to reduce the potential negative impact of cruises on our local health resources would be without the invaluable guidance of the Governor’s Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), the Hawaii Department of Defense (DOD), the Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) and the county authorities, ”said Jade Butay, director of the Hawaii Department of Transportation. “We appreciate everyone, including cruise ship representatives, who are coming together to finalize the necessary arrangements to meet the CDC Conditional Sailing Order.”
Notification of signed port agreements will be made through the HDOT website and social media accounts prior to the first confirmed departures.
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