Scientology measles ship heads for Curaçao

Freewinds (Image: CMI Ship Management

A 440 ft cruise ship operated by the Church of Scientology as a floating religious retreat has left the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia and is headed for Curaçao, reports the BBC.

The ship, the Panamanian-flagged Freewinds, has been identified in media reports as the vessel quarantined in St. Lucia since Tuesday because of a confirmed case of measles onboard.

The Freewinds is managed by CMI Ship Management of Miami, Fla., which says it has a capacity for 372 passengers.

The ship is homeported in Curaçao and, according to one report, a crew member who arrived in Curaçao from Europe was diagnosed with measles after visiting a doctor and reporting cold symptoms. Tests on a blood sample sent to Aruba were not available until after the ship had sailed, when the St. Lucia authorities were alerted.

The quarantine was lifted after the St. Lucia authorities supplied the vessel with 100 doses of measles vaccine.