Asia’s embattled cruise ship operators could soon be setting sail from Singapore after the Singapore Tourism Board issued a tender to establish a new health and safety certification benchmark.
The tender, awarded to DNV GL Singapore, will see the maritime industry classification advisor create a cruise compliance and certification program for cruise lines with the goal of allowing sailings out of the city. All port calls in and out of Singapore have been suspended since 13 March 2020 due to COVID-19.
According to The Business Times, tender documents reveal that “cruise to nowhere” sailings will be allowed for certified cruise ships but with capacity capped at 50% for at least the first three months.
DNV GL Singapore will be tasked with reviewing and enhancing cruise safety management measures as well as recommending an audit process for cruise ships.
All ships planning to restart sailings will be inspected and audited with those who pass all checks issued with a certification certificate.
Dream Cruises, a Genting Cruise Lines brand, has been named as one operator to be involved in the “cruise to nowhere” scheme, which will offer trips ranging from two to four nights.
The company became the first in the world to relaunch cruise ship operations out of Taiwan in July, while two of its ships – SuperStar Gemini and SuperStar Aquarius – have spent the past five months docked in Singapore as temporary housing for foreign workers who have recovered from COVID-19.
RelatedPosts
