Navy readying hospital ships for coronavirus response
The U.S. Navy is preparing to deploy its two hospital ships — USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy —in response to the coronavirus outbreak. However, in a press briefing at the Pentagon yesterday,
coronavirus
San Francisco Bay Ferry services slashed
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) has announced that its San Francisco Bay Ferry service will be temporarily reduced in response to regional efforts to reduce the spread
PVA to Trump: Include us in coronavirus economic assistance plans
The Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) has sent a letter to President Trump urging him to take immediate action to include U.S. passenger vessel operators in the administration’s plans to provide economic assistance
American Queen Steamboat Company suspends operations
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak on cruising is not confined to a 30-day halt in CLIA members’ ocean cruises from U.S. ports. American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) has announced that it
Stena Line to cut 950 jobs in Sweden
Coronavirus-related travel restrictions in Europe have had a devastating effect on ferry operations. On Friday, Gothenburg, Sweden, headquartered Stena Line said that, with Danish and Polish closing their borders, it would suspend
Fincantieri to suspend production at its Italian shipyards
Shipbuilding giant Fincantieri is to suspend production at its Italian facilities from March 16 until March 29. The move is in response both to ever-stricter Italian Government measures and to trade union
CLIA cruise lines suspend operations from U.S. ports for 30 days
CLIA —the Cruise Line Industry International Association — announced yesterday that its ocean-going cruise lines will be voluntarily and temporarily suspending cruise ship operations from U.S. ports of call for 30 days
FMC Commissioner notes pick-up in trans-Pacific trades
In a statement on the impact of the coronavirus on the maritime industry, Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel notes that, in response to its effects on Chinese manufacturing and logistics services, ocean
Department of State and CDC advise U.S. citizens to avoid cruise travel
Both the U.S. Department of State and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling on cruise ships. Both announcements are in stark contrast to
Coronavirus: Grand Princess to dock in Oakland
In an update posted at 10.00 p.m. Saturday, Princess Cruises said it had received word from state and local response operations that Grand Princess will proceed to the Port of Oakland on