Niël Terblanché
FEARS that the number of cases of COVID-19 might spike even higher, escalated sharply after a giant passenger ship, the Carnival Fascination, docked in Walvis Bay at the same time as hard lockdown measures were reintroduced.
The community of Walvis Bay was aware of the passenger liner that has been sailing up and down the coast for a few days. When the ship docked and discharged passengers news of the event spread much faster the coronavirus ever could.
The Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre and the commercial executive of the Namibian Ports Authority, Tino !Hanabeb had their hands full to maintain calm in the storm of subsequent emotions.
Only after some meticulous explanation from both did the community get back onto an even keel.
According to !Hanabeb the ship docked to allow Namibian and Zimbabwean employees of the Carnival Cruise Line based in Miami, Florida in the United States of America, to be repatriated.
Seven Namibians that serve as crew members on other ships of the cruise line disembarked and were taken to quarantine facilities immediately. After the Namibians were processed officials of the health, safety and security sector then processed 112 of the 182 Zimbabwean nationals on board.
The Zimbabweans were loaded in busses and taken to the Walvis Bay International Airport under the vigilant eyes of a police escort where an Air Namibia aircraft was waiting to fly them back to Harare.
The second group of 70 Zimbabwean cruise liner crew members disembarked from the ship late on Friday afternoon and went through the same process as their countrymen earlier in the day.
The second group was joined by seven of their countrymen that have been in supervised isolation since they disembarked from another vessel at the end of last week.
!Hanabeb gave the assurance that the authorities have met all the necessary health and safety conditions.
“We are happy to report that all the principal approvals were received from the Ministry of International Affairs and Corporation (MIRCO) and the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) following bilateral discussions between Zimbabwe and Namibia to undertake the repatriation exercise,” he said.
!Hanebeb explained that because the ship had been sailing up and down the coast that it became necessary to refuel the vessel at sea. He said the bunkering was done from a fuel barge in the anchorage area in the bay off the port.
The Erongo Regional Governor also called for calm from the Walvis Bay community after the ship docked and requested people to refrain from lending their ears out to rumours.
“Every box had to be ticked before the ship could even be allowed to enter the anchorage area in the bay off the port. It was a simple matter of ensuring that all resources were in place before the people could be allowed to come ashore,” Andre said.
The Port Captain of the Walvis Bay harbour, Lukas Kafuna, said it is the first time ever that a ship of the Carnival Line has docked in Walvis Bay.
“The cruise line decided to repatriate its employees by boat because most international flights have been grounded. With the international travel ban still in effect in many countries going by sea was the only other option to assist people to get back to their families,” Captain Kafuna said.
He said the ship sailed from Miami to Europe where the European employees were disembarked. Walvis Bay was the Fascination’s next destination for Namibians and Zimbabweans. Captain Kafuna said after leaving the port of Walvis Bay, the ship will sail on to Durban where Malawian and Mozambican crew members still on board will disembark.
“This was a humanitarian assistance exercise which we as a port authority passed with flying colours. Under international maritime law Namibia is obligated to assist ships in need of humanitarian assistance or supplies like food and fuel,” he said.
According to Captain Kafuna Carnival Cruise Lines paid for the humanitarian flight by Air Namibia from Walvis Bay to Harare.
