Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream is the first in a ‘safe cruise’ pilot scheme announced by the Singapore Tourism Board last month to ensure the safe and gradual resumption of cruises amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cruise sector has been badly hit by the outbreak of COVID-19, with some of the earliest big outbreaks found on cruises. Cruise ships have been identified as high risk for virus spread due to its large number of passengers, confined spaces and lots of opportunities for transmission – from guests leaving and reboarding the ship to guests visiting various locations in different countries over a short period of time.
The World Dream set sail this past Friday on its first trip with around 1,400 passengers, about half of its maximum capacity and reportedly the maximum allowed due to anti-coronavirus policies.
Health and Safety a top priority for resuming cuise liner operations
Before gaining access to the ship, all guests will have to pass a COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, and those who are seven years old or older will have to carry a MICE Pod token, which monitors wearers to ensure they adhere to social distancing guidelines. That requirement stems from orders passed down by Singapore’s Ministry of Health.
Policies also include social distancing procedures in all public areas, increased food and beverage handling rules, 100% fresh air ventilation in the staterooms and public areas, as well as the ship’s inclusion of a new medical facility. That facility includes a Polymerase Chain Reaction machine, which can detect bacteria and viruses much quicker than other methods.
A second cruise line, Royal Caribbean International, will join the scheme starting December 1.
Under the scheme, the cruises ships will make round trips to the city-state with no port of call in between. Capacity would be limited to 50 per cent and passengers must be Singapore residents. The programme aims at giving residents an opportunity to experience travel and a holiday feel amid the pandemic as well as to revive the tourism industry.
The Cruise inustry is well suited to benefit further from technology solutions designed to help Cruises prevent or efficiently and effectivley management any outbreaks on board. They will also help accelerate the process of sailing further afield to other nations.
Outbreak management system to assist in accelerating the resumption of multiple stop cruises
The travel and hospitality sector may have to invest in technology and adopt integrated technology solutions to ensure business continuity and to provide assurances to their workforce and to their passengers and guests that an outbreak management system has been put in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.
A total outbreak management system would enable cruise liners to have visibility of the overall health of everyone on board and build confidence in the restart of the badly hit sector.
Liberty Passage is a technology solution developed by Singapore start-up Access Anywhere has been designed to help provide relevant timely information and build the confidence required to restart free movement between countries and continents.
The Liberty Outbreak Management System gives cruise operators the opportunity to keep the pandemic under control by leveraging the latest advancements in technology such as constant machine learning and AI to keep cruise line operators, passengers and the authorities informed and aware of the risks around them.
The technology monitors guests and employee movements and contact in real-time, with dashboards that are continually updating with data. The AI and ML technology provides insights to any high-risk areas on the ship.
Its’ app featuring a self temperature check-in function, passenger itinerary and e-health record log along with thermal scanners make the on boarding and off boarding of passengers more efficient.
The system can immediately help identify anyone who has been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case and individuals will also receive personal risk notifications and alerts.
It will help management prevent or successfully manage an outbreak on the cruise liners by providing them with data and insights to make critical decisions quickly.
With many technology solutions requiring personal data to operate successfully, Liberty Passage uses blockchain technology, all personal information is anonymized at source. The system only asks what is necessary to keep all stakeholders informed and safe.
Liberty Passage is one of three outbreak management solutions Access Anywhere is offering for individuals, organisations, and the entire travel industry.
The Liberty Universe is for the entire population with Liberty Open designed for everyone to manage their personal risk, Liberty Corporate for organisations to ensure a safe return to work, and Liberty Passage for travel and the reopening of borders. Everyone gains from the vast insights the system provides to be able to go about their normal lives whilst keeping as safe as possible during the current pandemic and to mitigate risk from future outbreaks.
For more information, please visit: www.libertyandpassage.com
