BANGKOK, Feb 12 (TNA) – The Transport Ministry has confirmed that it has effective measures to screen visiting cruise ships.
Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said the Marine Department required the operators of visiting cruisers to report the previous 10 ports they had visited so that it could find out if the ships had been in coronavirus risk areas. The ships that passed risk areas must report the health conditions of all passengers and crewmembers and the Marine Department and health officials can then screen the visitors.
Regarding the Cruise Ship Professional Association’s request for assistance for the Dutch-flagged Westerdam cruiser, the deputy transport minister said the ship would not be allowed to dock but the government was ready to give it humanitarian assistance including food, consumer products and fuel.
Deputy Prime Minister/Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the stance and said Thailand was not among the original destinations of the ship.
There were as many as 700 Americans aboard the ship so it should dock at a port supervised by the United States, he said.
Like 3-4 other countries, Thailand rejected the World Health Organization’s request to welcome the Westerdam cruiser, Mr Anutin said. As the cruiser was heading for Thailand, he said it could anchor in international waters to wait for assistance. (TNA)
