Ship arrives for safe harbouring in Basseterre

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ONE of the two ships expected to safe harbour in St. Kitts has arrived and is currently docked close to Port Zante.

According to the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA), Rhapsody of the Seas, is currently docked after arrived at around 8:10 a.m.yesterday morning (Dec. 6) from St. Maarten. 

The SKTA informed that the ship arrived with the agreement that it would adhere to the Federation’s COVID-19 Regulations, including arrival travel requirements and health and safety protocols for all international travellers.

In its media statement, it was disclosed that the Rhapsody of the Seas is docked with 78 crew members onboard.

The crew for Rhapsody of the Seas has been approved to Safe Harbour for 60 days and is subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine onboard the vessel or quarantine for the number of days as per their transition time from their last port.

All crew members are to complete a RT-PCR test at the end of the 14-day quarantine period or mandated quarantine period, based on their transition time for their last port.

The SKTA and the Ministry of Health mandated that
: 
1.    In the event a crew member tests positive for COVID-19 on entry into St. Kitts, the vessel will have to leave Port Zante for International waters.
2.     Very limited physical interaction with crew members of both vessels during the mandatory quarantine. 
3.    SCASPA’s Pilots will not be required to provide any physical assistance to facilitate berthing for either vessel.
4.    Coast Guard assistance will not be required, unless in the case of an emergency.
5.    Royal Caribbean’s ship agent, Delisle Walwyn will be provisioning the cruise vessels.
6.    Containers of supplies will be imported and delivered to both the Grandeur of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas.
7.    The items will be dropped off on the Pier without any physical interaction between Delisle Walwyn staff and the crew.
8.    Crew exchange will be done only via air and all crew embarking ships and disembarking must adhere to the Federation’s travel requirements for arrival and departure.
9.    All crew members arriving by air must under the mandatory 14-day quarantine on the respective vessel.
10.    Royal Caribbean Group has advised crew members are not allowed to integrate into the Federation post the 14 day mandatory quarantine and negative RT-PCR test on day 14.  This was done to keep both the Federation and the crew safe during Safe Harbouring.

Meanwhile, not timeframe has been given for when the second vessel, the Grandeur of the Seas, is expected to arrive in St. Kitts.