(Image source from: independent.co.uk)
The Singapore government hired a Norway based risk management company to create a cruise compliance plan.
Just when there is a news all around regarding the flights to nowhere' inorder to provide some respite to people amid the lockdown and the pandemic to fulfill their travel craving, Singapore had recently decided on something else and came up with a new plan of starting cruises to nowhere.
As the pandemic has induced fear among people to travel internationally or even locally, Singapore tourism board has explored some new health and safety protocols that would allow the cruises to go nowhere as mentioned in the Singapore based newspaper The Straits Times.
There are already some reports that the Singapore government hired a Norway based risk management company to create a certification scheme to benchmark the global health, safety and hygiene standards.
The measure is being taken by the Singapore government to ensure that the cruise lines become operational once again.
Ever since the pandemic broke out, cruise ships have done no business and suffered huge losses with some of the cruise ships having to cut their trips short.
The ships have largely remained empty either at the ports or at the seas.
According to reports, the cruise industry was shut down in March after huge outbreaks on the sea.
One such serious outbreak was reported on the Diamond Princess off the coast of Yokohama in February in Japan.
This incident has led to the passengers and the staff members being stranded there for weeks.
Reportedly, some deaths were also reported at the sea area in Japan.
The Singapore Tourism Board Minister Rachel Loh told the daily Times that the cruise lines would be first required to pass an audit for the certification for the cruises to return to the sailing.
The details about this certification would be divulged later by the government.
However, the ships will only be allowed to sail with 50 percent of the capacity for the first three months after the reopening.
By Gayatri Yellayi
