With six cruise ships currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, MSC Cruises is pushing the idea that those vessels could be used to evacuate their own crew members out of the area.
Speaking in Miami Beach on Tuesday morning, MSC Group Cruise Division Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said the situation remained fluid.
“The reality is we have ships stuck in the Gulf for the time being. We are talking to the IMO (International Maritime Organization) because there are a lot of seafarers that can be moved out of the Gulf on these (cruise ships),” he said.
MSC has its Euribia stuck in the Persian Gulf, along with the Mein Schiff 4 and 5 from TUI Cruises. In addition are the Celestyal Journey and Discovery, and Cruise Saudi’s Aroya. The six ships account for approximately 17,000 berths.
Vago said the MSC Euribia had been brought down to minimum manning and the company had been cancelling itineraries in May in Northern Europe that were previously scheduled to operate with that ship.
“We need to stay cool and be ready to move out as soon as the possibility comes by,” Vago said.
Correction: MSC has clarified Vago’s comments as pertaining to the crew already aboard the ships in the Persian Gulf. A previous version of this article suggested that the cruise ships could be used for all other seafarers.
