MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands cruise vessels' humanitarian operation

Cruise vessels will be permitted to disembark passengers only for the purposes of allowing those passengers to return home by charter flight. (Archive picture)

The Falkland Islands Government announced on Monday it is assisting a number of cruise vessels seeking to repatriate their passengers to other countries through air charter flights. Working with our partners at the British Forces South Atlantic Islands, a policy has been put in place that allows this humanitarian operation, while still protecting our population from COVID-19.

Cruise vessels will only be permitted to call into the Falkland Islands if:

• All those on board have been on board for a minimum of [10] days, and
• No-one on board is suffering from symptoms consistent with them being a “suspect case” for Covid-19.

Cruise vessels will be permitted to disembark passengers only for the purposes of allowing those passengers to return home by charter flight in accordance with arrangements agreed between the Operator and the Falkland Islands Government.

Passengers will be taken directly from the disembarkation point in Stanley to the charter flight.

Two vessels have so far been assisted successfully and there are plans for a further five vessels to disembark providing the criteria above can be met. There will be no further cruise ships arriving in the Falklands for either tourism or repatriation following the departure of the five remaining vessels.