FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Cruise trade association asks for mercy

Cruise trade association asks for mercy

The Cruise Ship Professional Association believes the Thai government could cope with any situation found aboard the wandering cruise ship Westerdam without putting its citizens at risk.

Thailand is the latest location where the ship’s officers have sought and been refused permission to dock. 
Fear that someone among the crew – which includes 19 Thais – or 2,000-plus passengers, with more Thais among them, might be infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus has seen the ship turned away in Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines and the US territory of Guam.
In a statement on Wednesday (February 12), the association noted that permission to dock at Laem Chabang Port had been requested on Monday. 
It said all passengers and crewmembers had been closely checked and were being monitored by medics onboard according to international standards and they’d been at sea for 20 days – ample time for anyone infected to begin displaying symptoms.
The association asked all relevant agencies and the public sector to demonstrate humanitarianism by getting the passengers and crew ashore, where they can be screened more closely. 
Any infected people could be taken immediately to a properly equipped Thai hospital, it said.

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