CLIA’s ocean cruise line members have agreed to test all crew and passengers for coronavirus before they embark on a vessel.
All passengers and crew will need a negative test result to board the ship.
The new requirement will apply to ocean-going ships carrying 250 or more persons and will be applied globally, CLIA said when announcing the initiative at the recent Seatrade Virtual Cruise event.
CLIA said in a statement: “This is a travel industry first and an example of the cruise industry leading the way. We see testing as an important initial step to a multi-layered approach that we believe validates the industry’s commitment to making health, safety, and the well-being of the passengers, the crew, and the communities we visit our top priority.”
Detailing more plans for a safe return to cruising post Covid-19, CLIA recently revealed a comprehensive Covid-19 framework in collaboration with the UK Chamber of Shipping (see separate story).
The new framework was produced in collaboration with operators, industry partners and health experts, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), IMO, European Maritime Safety Association (EMSA), the European Centre for Disease Control, and EU Healthy Gateways.
