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Cruise lines are working to make arrangements for crew members aboard out-of-service ships in Australian waters, and require further support and collaboration from government to achieve workable solutions.

Having suspended operations in response to COVID-19, all CLIA cruise line ships that had been operating in and around Australia have now disembarked passengers and have either left the region or are at anchor or berthed while out of service.

Cruise lines are now focused on arrangements to return crew from remaining ships to their homes and families overseas as is standard practice at the end of crew contracts, and on preparing their ships to be laid up with skeleton crew while they are out of service.

CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said further government support was needed to allow crew movements. Crew remain on board, and cruise lines are facing a difficult challenge in making plans for their people while government bans are in place here and elsewhere.

“Governments are refusing permission for crew who disembark ships to be repatriated. The cruise lines are very aware that crew are far from their families and eager to get home, and together with CLIA are lobbying governments to allow this,” Mr Katz said.

“If allowed, cruise lines will arrange charter flights for their crew or transport aboard their own vessels, but workable arrangements with government are required to make this happen.

“Australia has successfully processed many tens of thousands of people through its airports in line with COVID-19 precautions, and we believe it is entirely safe and feasible to allow movements of crew in a similarly sensible and ordered process.

“We are dealing with people who are at the heart of our industry and who were at the front-line in caring for our guests, and we now need to provide certainty for them,” Mr Katz said. “Cruise lines will comply with all necessary precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the health and safety of crew members and the wider community remains the industry’s top priority.”

Individual cruise lines are working with the Australian Government on approvals for out-of-service ships that are home-ported in Australia to remain, while it is planned that other ships will leave as soon as practicably possible.