Maritime

March 25, 2020

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Two days later, the WHO stated that Europe showed more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China. Italy now has more reported deaths from COVID-19 than China and, as COVID-19 continues to spread, governments across the globe are implementing ever stricter measures in an attempt to contain or delay the spread of the disease.…

Cruise Law News

Carnival Chairman Micky Arison Makes “Generous Offer” to Supply Idle Cruise Ships as Floating Hospitals to FEMA

By Jim Walker

March 19, 2020

At the televised coronavirus press conference this morning, President Trump announced that he is considering using Carnival Cruise Line ships as floating hospitals for coronavirus patients. President Trump stated that he received a “generous offer” from Carnival Corporation’s Chairman Micky Arison. Trump further stated that he will be speaking with the governors of the state of New York and California to obtain their thoughts regarding how the cruise ships might be used. The president said…

Cruise Law News

COVID-19: Appealing to Loyalty and Preying on Fears, MSC Cruises Pressures Crew Members to Waive Right to be Paid

By Jim Walker

March 18, 2020

Several MSC crew members state that MSC is attempting to convince them to waive their legal rights to future compensation by signing a repatriation notification document. MSC recently requested all of its employees on its cruise ships to sign this notification, which states: “MSC Cruises’ Notification For Crew Members We care for you, our MSC Family, and want to make you stay safe and healthy during this global crisis of Covid-19, and this is…

Cruise Law News

New Outbreaks, Stranded Passengers and Concerned Crew Members: Industry Struggles with Shut-Down Due to Coronavirus

By Jim Walker

March 16, 2020

Several years ago, I attended the annual Sea Trade Conference (now called the Cruise Shipping Miami) where companies which cater to the cruise industry promote their services and products. One company was advertising disinfectant spraying services for the cruise lines in order to eradicate contagious viruses. The company displayed a mannequin wearing a full body hazmat suit. The Cruise Industry Has A History of Providing Inadequate Equipment and Training to its Crew Members to Deal With…

Cruise Law News

What the Cruise Industry Has to Learn From My Cousins Back in Arkansas

By Jim Walker

March 13, 2020

This past month, I have spent a lot of time back home in Arkansas tending to some family matters. Being in a down-to-earth location like El Dorado, Arkansas makes it exceedingly clear just how greedy the Miami-based cruise lines truly are. My home town of El Dorado has a Fortune 200 company called Murphy Oil Corporation. The oil company was founded by my uncle, Charles Murphy Jr., who took charge of the family timber, oil, and banking interests in south Arkansas in…

Cruise Law News

Coronavirus: Disney and Other Lines Join Viking in Suspending Cruises As Many Countries Close Their Ports

By Jim Walker

March 13, 2020

Several cruise lines announced yesterday that they are suspending cruising due to the emerging coronavirus outbreak. Following Viking Cruises and Princess Cruises’ suspension of cruising, Disney Cruises, AMA River Cruises, Avalon Waterways, Celestyal Cruises, Saga Cruises, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises are all suspending their cruise operations. European lines such as Saga made the decision after the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office advised British nationals aged 70 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions…

Cruise Law News

Viking Cruises Suspends Operations Until May 1st Citing Coronavirus

By Jim Walker

March 12, 2020

In a remarkable turn of events, a cruise line announced last night that it was suspending its operations until May 1, 2020 in light of the coronavirus pandemic. This was the first time that a major cruise line finally did the right thing in light of the emerging coronavirus virus. Viking Cruises published an open letter from its chairman Torstein Hagen in which he announced that his company is temporarily suspending the company’s operations of…

Cruise Law News

Cruise Coronavirus Poster Child: Princess Cruises Leads All Cruise Lines with 27 Disease Outbreaks in Last Decade

By Jim Walker

March 11, 2020

For the better part of the last decade, I have been writing on a regular basis about disease outbreaks which occur on cruise ships. In the past ten years, there have been over 120 disease outbreaks on cruise ships, involving norovirus, e-coli and other more exotic viruses, as well as measles and Legionnaires Disease. Princess Is the Leader in Cruise Ship Disease Outbreaks Not surprisingly, Princess Cruises has experienced the most norovirus outbreaks (and other…

Cruise Law News

Brawl Breaks Out on Norwegian Encore

By Jim Walker

March 6, 2020

Two brawls reportedly broke out on NCL’s Norwegian Encore earlier this week, with one fight captured by a cruise passenger, identified as Robert Steele, who posted the melee’ on his Facebook page. He also posted the following comments with the video: “On 34th cruise and first one with a major security incident. NCL Encore last night. Second fight of night. Rednecks. I believe that they are being kicked off the ship today in San…

Ship Law Log

Passage Planning and Unseaworthiness – The Court of Appeal decision – CMA CGM LIBRA

By Richard Gunn & Konstantinos Bachxevanis

March 6, 2020

The Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the Admiralty Judge in ‘The CMA CGM LIBRA’ in that a defective Passage Plan can render a vessel unseaworthy notwithstanding that the defect stemmed from navigational decisions. Any such error is attributable to the carrier or owner and constitutes a failure by the carrier or owner to exercise ‘due diligence’ before and at the commencement of the voyage to make the vessel seaworthy under the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules.…

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Maritime

Shipping Update 2 – COVID-19: Emerging Themes

Carnival Chairman Micky Arison Makes “Generous Offer” to Supply Idle Cruise Ships as Floating Hospitals to FEMA

COVID-19: Appealing to Loyalty and Preying on Fears, MSC Cruises Pressures Crew Members to Waive Right to be Paid

New Outbreaks, Stranded Passengers and Concerned Crew Members: Industry Struggles with Shut-Down Due to Coronavirus

What the Cruise Industry Has to Learn From My Cousins Back in Arkansas

Coronavirus: Disney and Other Lines Join Viking in Suspending Cruises As Many Countries Close Their Ports

Viking Cruises Suspends Operations Until May 1st Citing Coronavirus

Cruise Coronavirus Poster Child: Princess Cruises Leads All Cruise Lines with 27 Disease Outbreaks in Last Decade

Brawl Breaks Out on Norwegian Encore

Passage Planning and Unseaworthiness – The Court of Appeal decision – CMA CGM LIBRA

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