Boats gave the stricken cruise liner RUBY PRINCESS an honorary water salute as she departed from Port Kembla in New South Wales on Thursday 23rd April, five weeks after the coronavirus plagued vessel docked at Circular Quay in Sydney and later she shifted to Port Kembla. Around 300 crew members still on board waved to Wollongong residents as the horn signalled the ship’s departure.
The ship has since been linked to more than 700 COVID-19 cases in Australia more than 10 per cent of all cases in the nation and 21 deaths. 11 more crew members with coronavirus were taken off the ship in the final hours before she left, bound to Manila in the Philippines.The 11 cases are in addition to the 21 crew who had already been confirmed to have coronavirus. A total of 13 are in Sydney hospitals and the rest are in hotels for quarantine.
Over the past three days, 550 crew disembarked to be flown to their home countries including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Republic of North Macedonia and Romania.
Earlier today, more than 300 Filipino crew free from the virus disembarked and were taken to Sydney Airport by coach, where they were set to fly home to Manila this evening.Remaining crew are staying in passenger cabins, and gathered on balconies as the ship, adorned with a ‘Thank You Illawarra’ banner, left.
Photos by Capt. Lawrence Dalli. Do not use these images without my permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Thursday 23rd April 2020