When a floating palace becomes a golden prison with no destination. For several days, this has been the case with the Zaandam, a Dutch liner which is currently in the Caribbean Sea with four people who died on board and at least two contaminated by Covid-19.
The beginning of his adventure dates back to March 7. On that day, with 1,800 passengers on board, the Zaandam, which sails for the cruise ship Holland America, leaves from Buenos Aires (Argentina), for a tour of South America with passage through Cape Horn. Arrival scheduled for March 21 in San Antonio, Chile. Yes, but there you are, passengers are starting to show symptoms of an influenza-like illness. The authorities on board want to disembark their thousands of passengers. Except that it is time to close the borders and the countries, starting with Chile, do not want to welcome people potentially contaminated by the new coronavirus.
On March 14, the Zaandam made a stopover at Punta Arena, a port in southern Chile, thinking it could leave its passengers there. No one is finally allowed to descend. Four days later, Chile closes its land, air and sea borders. On the 20th, the boat was authorized to dock in Valparaiso (still in Chile) but only to get supplies of food, medicine and fuel. Enough to leave off Peru, without being able to enter one of its ports.
In the meantime, the first passengers have declared the virus and non-sick holidaymakers have started confinement in their cabins. Holland America has only one solution: send another ship in its fleet, with no passengers on board, to lend a hand and provide food, personnel and tests of Covid-19 to the ship in distress. So Rotterdam arrives, and the 400 passengers tested healthy for the Zaandam are transferred to its board. From there, the two boats travel in tandem.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is somewhat reluctant but ultimately authorizes the couple to take the Central American seaway. The two liners then plan to join Fort Lauderdale (Florida). But in his last declarations Sunday, the mayor of the American city seemed little seduced by the possibility, believing that the conditions were not met to welcome the liner.
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VIDEO. Passengers of the Zaandam liner transhipped: a French woman testifies
For the time being, the floating hotel is therefore wandering in the Caribbean Sea, without knowing where exactly it will be able to dock to disembark its passengers. But he is not the only one. Last week, about thirty boats were waiting at sea to be able to unload their cargo of passengers, announced Le Marin, a magazine specializing in the maritime economy. This week, there were only a dozen or so, explains Erminio Eschena, president of Clia France (Association des Croisières Lines International), which brings together the majority of cruise lines operating on the seas of the world.
Since March 15, most of these companies have suspended their activity. But it is still necessary to empty the boats and bring the passengers to safe harbor. With the borders of the countries which close as the virus evolves, cruise lines enter into negotiations. “Even during an ordinary cruise, the health authorities must give the green light for a disembarkation. The state of health of passengers and crew members is transmitted to them, and the health authorities eventually board to give an opinion, summarizes Eminio Eschena. Since the start of the crisis, measures have been stepped up because the boats are in constant contact with WHO and the health authorities of the countries. In the current context, discussions then begin with the port authorities, the maritime prefect, the prefect. "
If this authorization is given, it must still be ensured that the holidaymaker or the member of his staff who has just landed has the means to return home. It would not be a matter of simply abandoning it in the port ... "To be able to disembark passengers, the company must ensure that passengers can return to their country, that an airport is not far from the port, that flights will be reserved for them, ”adds the cruise specialist. The disembarkation of passengers therefore also depends on airlines whose activity has been in free fall for several weeks.
"If the life of a passenger is at stake, the doctor and the captain can decide to disembark"
Pending this green light, the liner must come to the aid of its hundreds of passengers. Stopovers are therefore sometimes authorized, as Zaandam was able to do in Valparaiso. "These technical supplies are done but under drastic prevention conditions," says Eminio Eschena, who mentions "disinfection before and after equipment".
For the health monitoring of the occupants, the liners are medicalized. “Health security is an integral part of cruise systems. Even during normal periods, doctors and nurses, whose number varies according to the size of the boat, are always present on board, ”notes Eminio Eschena. And in case of strong concern? The emergency can force a disembarkation. “Despite the medical devices on board the liners, if the life of a passenger is at stake, the doctor and the captain can decide to disembark, by helicopter, for example. "
In order for these situations to defuse themselves, the President of Clia France calls on the authorities' goodwill: "While preserving their health security, countries must show kindness and generosity towards passengers and the men and women of the staff sailing so that they return to their families. "
