Holland America Line cruise ship’s crew disembarks in Honolulu
LEILA FUJIMORI / LFUJIMORI@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Holland America Line cruise ship Westerdam was docked at Honolulu Harbor today.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
This is the cruise ship Maasdam that appears to rise up over the traffic on Nimitz Highway as it is docked at Pier 2.
A Holland America Line cruise ship, the Westerdam, moored at Pier 2, arrived Monday and was scheduled to depart at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
There are no passengers aboard the Westerdam, which left Manila on March 2, but its crew disembarked in Honolulu, said Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Sakahara.
“None of the previous passengers or crew have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus,” the DOT said Tuesday in an email from Sakahara.
The Westerdam’s onboard doctor screened the crew members before they were released, according to an email from Foreign Trade Zone Management. It is unclear how many crew members were aboard the ship.
The Coast Guard, the state and DOT Harbors Division were working with the cruise line and the ship’s crew to provide necessary services and to resupply it.
Prior to Tuesday the Westerdam crew had not left the ship since Feb. 26.
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The vessel was at sea longer than the 14-day incubation period before arriving in Hawaii, the DOT said.
The Westerdam departed Hong Kong on Feb. 1 with 1,500 passengers, who disembarked in Cambodia on Feb. 14.
“There are no confirmed reports of any COVID-19 cases associated with the vessel,” according to Holland America Line and foreign government agencies.
The Westerdam does not pose a risk of contagion for COVID-19 at this time, Sakahara said in a written statement.
The Westerdam is not to be confused with the Maasdam, also a Holland America Line vessel, which had a port call for Hilo, but that reservation was canceled, Sakahara said.
The Maasdam was diverted away from Hilo, although no positive cases of COVID-19 have been associated with the ship, and is expected to arrive in Hawaii waters Friday.
The DOT and Coast Guard are coordinating with the Maasdam. Ship officials are required to report any symptomatic passengers before arriving in Hawaii waters.
The Coast Guard will monitor the Maasdam through its local agent prior to its arrival.
Honolulu Harbor is the preferred port where DOT will accept the Maasdam.
“To date, there have been no positive cases of COVID-19 associated with the ship,” the DOT said of the Maasdam on Monday.
“If there are concerns with passengers the ship can be held out of port,” the DOT said.
