Cruise ship under investigation after vomit attack
Ferry Online Travel News 07/01/2010
Giant cruise ship in danger of being quarantined
The Balmoral owned and operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has earned itself quite a reputation as a cursed ship after its passengers were struck by a winter vomiting bug for the third time. The ship is now in danger of being detained after 250 passengers on board were infected by the norovirus.
The giant cruise ship weighing over 43,500-tonne is all set to be thoroughly cleaned and fumigated by cleaning agents and will undergo massive deep cleaning using suitable equipment. It is currently on the way to Canary Islands from Dover and will be received by officials from the Health Protection Agency and doctors who will be responsible for assessing the condition of all the passengers and crew members on board.
Based on the advice of the health officials there is a good chance the ship will be detained by the Maritime and Coastguard agency.
Sandra Westacott, the chief executive of the Association of Port Health Authorities, Is of the opinion that the ship would be detained at port so that it could do no more harm. Also if the crew present on the ship were also severe infected, the chances of the ship operating safely were very small. In the last twelve months, the ship has already seen two bouts of vomiting, bringing the toll of infected passengers to 541, a very high number as ascertained by the officials.
The ship has earned its infamous reputation of being a cursed ship after it was attacked by pirates, had to battle out storm force gales which left many on board injured and was infected twice previously with the vomiting bug.
Tags: Balmoral, Sandra Westacott, Association of Port Health Authorities, Health Protection Agency, Maritime and Coastguard agency, Dover, Canary Islands
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