Without wanting to overuse the word, the situation that we are currently in is quite obviously 'unprecedented' for the whole of the travel industry. With no cruise ships currently sailing in the entire world - why are ships still moving around all over the world, and why have cruise lines not docked their ships and just left them there? In this post I will attempt to answer some of the most common questions currently around regarding the movement of cruise ships during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Below, I have broken down some of the most common questions that I have seen arising across the internet and comments on certain posts. Some are more detailed than others, just due to the nature of the questions.
Why Are Some Ships Moving Out Of Port Every Few Days For A Few Hours, Then Returning?
You might have noticed that cruise ships that a ship that has been laid up in a port for a few days will then leave the port for a few hours (or a couple of days), returning to the same port a bit later. To someone watching a ship on an online tracker, this can look very pointless and a waste of fuel, however there is a couple of very good reason that the ships need to do this.
Firstly, cruise ships have not been designed to sit in port for long periods of time without moving anywhere. Not moving the ships every so often could cause serious problems for the shipping companies if machinery begins to seize up because it's not being used. In turn, this could cost companies more than if they just took the ships out for a few hours every so often!
Secondly, when a ship is in port it is accumulating what is known as "grey water". This is water from the showers, sinks and other places (excluding toilets). This water gets treated onboard the ship to a drinkable standard, however then needs to be discharged off the ship. There are regulations in place that prohibit ships from doing this whilst within a certain proximity from shore. Therefore ships are required to leave port and discharge of this water every so often when they are getting close to capacity.
Why Are Some Ships Sailing To Completely Different Destinations (e.g Caribbean to Europe)?
There are quite a few different reasons that a ship could be making a long journey, some are more common/routine than others. One of the most common reasons at the moment that ships are making long journeys, especially from America, is to get the crew onboard the ships home. Currently in America the CDC has ruled that no crew from ships are to get off the ships in any American ports. This has meant that crew have not been able to leave and fly home to their own countries.
Another reason that ships could be moving between different ports, is because they are relocating to somewhere they need to be for when cruising resumes. If a ship is moving from America to Europe it is likely because the ship will need to be in Europe for when the cruise line thinks cruises will resume (don't read too far into where a cruise line is moving their ships, it may not correlate to when a ship is going to return to service!).
Finally, a ship may be moving to its homeport. This could either be for the reason above or because the cruise line may have acquired cheaper berths at ports that they use often.
Are Ships Anchoring Outside Port Because It Is Cheaper?
In a lot of places, this is true. As anchorage points outside of ports are in less demand than actual docking space in the port it costs a lot less money for cruise lines to anchor outside of port than to dock inside of it. This being said, however, in some ports it is simply not possible for cruise ships to stay in port for extended periods of time either because a) there is limited space and not all of the cruise ships would be able to get in if some simply stayed docked, or, b) other types of vessel need to use dock space that cruise ships would otherwise be taking up - for example car transporters.
If you have any more questions related to this topic, please comment them below or let me know on Instagram @cruisephotographer.
Below, I have broken down some of the most common questions that I have seen arising across the internet and comments on certain posts. Some are more detailed than others, just due to the nature of the questions.
Why Are Some Ships Moving Out Of Port Every Few Days For A Few Hours, Then Returning?
You might have noticed that cruise ships that a ship that has been laid up in a port for a few days will then leave the port for a few hours (or a couple of days), returning to the same port a bit later. To someone watching a ship on an online tracker, this can look very pointless and a waste of fuel, however there is a couple of very good reason that the ships need to do this.
Firstly, cruise ships have not been designed to sit in port for long periods of time without moving anywhere. Not moving the ships every so often could cause serious problems for the shipping companies if machinery begins to seize up because it's not being used. In turn, this could cost companies more than if they just took the ships out for a few hours every so often!
Secondly, when a ship is in port it is accumulating what is known as "grey water". This is water from the showers, sinks and other places (excluding toilets). This water gets treated onboard the ship to a drinkable standard, however then needs to be discharged off the ship. There are regulations in place that prohibit ships from doing this whilst within a certain proximity from shore. Therefore ships are required to leave port and discharge of this water every so often when they are getting close to capacity.
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| Queen Mary 2, Marella Discovery 2 & Ventura In Southampton. |
Why Are Some Ships Sailing To Completely Different Destinations (e.g Caribbean to Europe)?
There are quite a few different reasons that a ship could be making a long journey, some are more common/routine than others. One of the most common reasons at the moment that ships are making long journeys, especially from America, is to get the crew onboard the ships home. Currently in America the CDC has ruled that no crew from ships are to get off the ships in any American ports. This has meant that crew have not been able to leave and fly home to their own countries.
Another reason that ships could be moving between different ports, is because they are relocating to somewhere they need to be for when cruising resumes. If a ship is moving from America to Europe it is likely because the ship will need to be in Europe for when the cruise line thinks cruises will resume (don't read too far into where a cruise line is moving their ships, it may not correlate to when a ship is going to return to service!).
Finally, a ship may be moving to its homeport. This could either be for the reason above or because the cruise line may have acquired cheaper berths at ports that they use often.
Are Ships Anchoring Outside Port Because It Is Cheaper?
In a lot of places, this is true. As anchorage points outside of ports are in less demand than actual docking space in the port it costs a lot less money for cruise lines to anchor outside of port than to dock inside of it. This being said, however, in some ports it is simply not possible for cruise ships to stay in port for extended periods of time either because a) there is limited space and not all of the cruise ships would be able to get in if some simply stayed docked, or, b) other types of vessel need to use dock space that cruise ships would otherwise be taking up - for example car transporters.
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| Southampton Appears To Be Getting Busier By The Day (Cruisemapper) |
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