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With the resumption of sailing on the Norway coast this week, Hurtigruten has released its detailed health and safety plan.

With a 127-year record of safety and no cases of Covid-19 on any of its ships, the updated policy reflects Hurtigruten’s ongoing commitment to the safety of its guests, crew and staff.

 “Guests travelling with Hurtigruten can feel confident that we have the strictest health and safety measures in place,” says Damian Perry, Managing Director Hurtigruten Asia Pacific. “At Hurtigruten, safety always has been, and always will be, our number one priority.”

The new health and safety policy reflects the centuries-old Norwegian concept of dugnad (duty to the community above oneself), with both crew and guests taking responsibility for the health and safety of everyone on board.

Hurtigruten has strict procedures for protection against infection on board its ships and follows the Norwegian Institute of Public Health guidelines. In addition, Hurtigruten has introduced some extra health and safety procedures for its 2020 sailings.

The full health and safety policy is available here, with selected highlights listed below.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • Maximum 50% capacity on all ships for the 2020 northern hemisphere summer sailings.
  • Following the national Norwegian Institute of Public Health guidelines will be mandatory at all times for guests and crew.
  • Wearing a face mask is optional. Masks will be available if a guest chooses to wear them.
  • Guests must respect the capacity restrictions in public areas of the ships. Floor markings will aid with physical distancing.
  • Guests will be expected to observe handwashing protocols including at embarkation and disembarkation, outside all restaurants and on entering public areas.
  • Guests will need to open a cruise account, with touch-free purchases.
  • Self-declaration screening and travel history analysis plus temperature screening will be conducted before embarkation
  • Temperature screening cameras have been installed to test your temperature as you move around the ship.

RESTAURANTS

  • Extra dining sessions, each serving fewer people, to ensuring necessary social distancing.
  • Increased disinfecting stations for hand cleaning on board and at restaurants.
  • Dining rooms to be disinfected between dining sessions.
  • No buffets will operate as guests will be served by our chefs.
  • Digital menus will be supplied removing multi-use card menus.

CLEANING

  • In addition to strict cleaning procedures, UV light will be used to identify organic materials so they can be removed.
  • All cabins will be fully disinfected at changeover.
  • Electrostatic cleaning with strong disinfectants used in all communal areas, storerooms and galleys.
  • Regular microbiological testing will be carried out to detect whether any infectious substances remain after cleaning, or whether there are any traces of coronavirus on board. Positive results will prompt a full disinfection of the entire ship.
  • Planned and unannounced hygiene inspections on all ships.
  • Regular inspections of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) ventilator filters, and drinking water quality.

EXCURSIONS

  • Reduced capacity to ensure social distancing.
  • Additional cleaning and hygiene procedures.
  • Regular handwashing/disinfecting throughout the excursion.
  • All equipment provided disinfected before use by another guest.
  • All buses thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each trip.

STAFF PROTOCOLS

  • Health checks prior to embarkation as well as daily temperature readings.
  • All crew must complete the WHO’s official COVID-19 course for hygiene procedures and infection management, as well as an extensive internal training program.
  • Dedicated Health & Safety Officer, responsible for ensuring the quality of infection control on board.

IN CASE OF COVID-19
Procedures for handling infection are in place, and in the case of a COVID-19 infection on board, infection tracking, dedicated isolation cabins, and on-call assistance from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.