Covid 19 coronavirus: the cruise ship Le Lapérouse rejected entry into New Zealand waters

A luxury expedition cruise ship “floating” out of New Zealand waters has stopped at the border because most of the crew were denied visas.

According to tour operators, Le Lapérouse’s crew received prior approval from the Ministry of Health to enter New Zealand.

Le Lapérouse is a 264 passenger ship operated by the Ponant cruise company.

The ship was granted a financial exemption on December 18 to operate an exclusive travel season to New Zealand starting February 8, however, it is now being held at sea pending an additional decision.

But Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said that when Le Laperouse received permission to travel to New Zealand “that approval was on the condition that Le Laperouse obtain the necessary visas from Immigration New Zealand.”

“I want to make it clear, our border is closed.” he said.

“That was made clear to the ship’s agents at least twice,” Faafoi said.

“I understand that INZ [Immigration New Zealand] received a request for border exceptions for 90 foreign crew members aboard the vessel 48 hours before its trip to New Zealand began. INZ granted visas to 29 crew members who were deemed essential for the operation of the ship to travel to New Zealand for the purpose of handing it over to a company and for its overhaul or refit. Immigration rejected visas for the other 61 crew members that were not considered essential for the purpose of the ship’s trip here, “he said.

These staff included hairdressers, bartenders, and masseurs.

“The ship should have waited for the visa decisions to be completed to ensure that those on board were complying with New Zealand immigration requirements when the ship entered our border,” he said.

“I want to make it clear, our border is closed,” he said.

Wild Earth Travel Director Aaron Russ chartered the boat from the operator Ponant. Seven expeditions around New Zealand are planned, with the first due to start in Auckland on February 8.

Travel plans for up to 700 kiwis have now been disrupted.

The ship has space for 92 passenger cabins.

What’s next for the ship?

Officials are talking to the ship about options; one of those options is for him to turn around, Faafoi said.

Another is the boat docks, but the 61 staff members will have to leave “immediately.”

Faafoi said the ship continued to navigate, despite visa applications being rejected.

He said that the company organizing the cruise had already started marketing the cruise in New Zealand.

Faafoi said that he would charitably call that “reckless.” He said he had to be “diplomatic” about his comments on the event, so he will not go beyond “reckless.”

If the ship reaches New Zealand, people would be quarantined on the ship until sent home, or they would be “detained.”

Faafoi did not elaborate on where they would be detained.

The ship has a French flag, Faafoi said.

If the ship docks here, the 61 crew members would be sent home at their expense.
But he said the best result would be for the boat to turn around.

“Our border is closed,” he said repeatedly.

Letting workers in would set a lousy precedent.

Tour operators say the ship is currently less than 300 miles from Auckland, after sailing from Asia.

“All crew members have been in isolation for 27 days, have had 4 negative PCR tests, and are fully trained in the company’s safe protocols for Covid, security operations and emergency operations.”

More to come