US CDC issues next phase of steps for resuming cruises

Following several calls by the cruise industry, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the next phase of technical guidance under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO).

This phase, the second of the CSO issued in October 2020, requires cruise lines to establish agreements at ports where they intend to operate, implement routine testing of the crew, and develop plans incorporating vaccination strategies to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of COVID-19 by crew and passengers.

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More specifically, this phase provides technical instructions on:

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Increasing from weekly to daily the reporting frequency of COVID-19 cases and illnesses.
Implementing routine testing of all crew based on each ship’s color status.
Updating the color-coding system used to classify ships’ status with respect to COVID-19.
Decreasing the time needed for a “red” ship to become “green” from 28 to 14 days based on the availability of onboard testing, routine screening testing protocols, and daily reporting.
Creating planning materials for agreements that port authorities and local health authorities must approve to ensure cruise lines have the necessary infrastructure in place to manage an outbreak of COVID-19 on their ships to include healthcare capacity and housing to isolate infected people and quarantine those who are exposed.
Establishing a plan and timeline for vaccination of crew and port personnel.

In addition to these, COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical in the safe resumption of passenger operations, CDC also noted.

As more people are fully vaccinated, the phased approach allows CDC to incorporate these advancements into planning for resumption of cruise ship travel when it is safe to do so. CDC recommends that all eligible port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them.

The next phase of the CSO will include simulated (trial) voyages that will allow crew and port personnel to practice new COVID-19 operational procedures with volunteers before sailing with passengers.