Carnival Cruise Line said on Monday it has extended its pause in operations for North American voyages until September 30, as it determines how to safely resume service amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cruise line, owned by Carnival Corp, had previously said it would resume some voyages on August 1.

Industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said on Friday its ocean-going cruise line members, which include Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, would voluntarily extend their pause in operations from U.S. ports until Sept. 15.

The cruise industry has taken a major hit from the novel coronavirus pandemic, with some of the earliest large clusters of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus, occurring aboard cruise ships in which thousands of passengers and crew were packed in tight quarters.

On March 14 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a no-sail order for all cruise ships, which it subsequently extended to July 24.

To survive for months without revenue, the companies have issued debt and pursued additional funding. In May, Norwegian completed a $2.4 billion fundraising through debt and equity offerings. Norwegian Chief Executive Officer Frank Del Rio told Reuters at that time that the $3.5 billion in cash that the company had on hand would be enough to bankroll it for “at least 18 months” without new revenue.

In April, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), disclosed an 8.2% stake in Carnival Corp.

The major cruise operators are not eligible to receive funding from the CARES Act, which was passed by Congress in March to address the economic fallout from the pandemic, because they are incorporated outside of the United States.

Amid worldwide travel restrictions, operators have struggled to repatriate foreign workers living aboard idled ships.

On behalf of the Board, the Port Director, the Management and Staff of the Port Authority, we extend our sincere condolences to the family of Robert “Robbie’ Hamaty, who died on Saturday June 13, 2020.

Mr. Hamaty was known world wide for the famous Tortuga Rum cakes, a product of the Tortuga Rum Company that he and his wife Carlene started in 1984.

Mr. Hamaty’s relationship with the Port Authority spans decades as he operated stores on the Port facilities and around the immediate area. He was a kind man, with vision and purpose. He always looked for ways to improve the experience for the visitors and residents of the Cayman Islands and did his best to look out for the smaller businesses who existed around him as well. He will be greatly missed by all who interacted with him and knew him.  He was an inspiration to many.

To the Hamaty family, we are sorry for your loss and we pray that you will find comfort in the many, many happy memories you have of Mr. Hamaty. God bless you all and may Mr. Hamaty’s soul Rest In Peace.

The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands wishes to advise the public that storage fees on imported cargo will be reinstated as of June 15, 2020 should it exceed the 5 days permitted for collection.

The Port Authority (PACI) wishes to advise persons with vehicles that have been imported, but are uncleared and at PACI’s facilities, to please do so as soon as possible.   The more vehicles we have uncollected at our property, the less we can allow to be imported each week and there are lots of vehicles in Jamaica awaiting shipment to Grand Cayman.  For those persons who have vehicles currently in Jamaica awaiting shipment to Grand Cayman, please contact your agent/broker, which in most cases is Miracle Brokers, to advise them whether you are ready and in a position to clear the vehicle immediately as it arrives in Cayman.  This would hopefully allow for those vehicles to be prioritized for shipping and will allow us to facilitate a regular flow of vehicles to those persons who are anxiously seeking to have them.

The Local Fish Market now located stars the South Terminal on Harbour Drive is now open to business. Fresh fish is available.

Please wear your masks and observe the social distancing marks on the floor.  There are restrooms and hand sanitizer stations also available for customers. 

Today I want to recognize The Facilities Maintenance Team.

Every morning the Facilities Maintenance Team arrives early and fills the refreshment coolers with drinks for the staff working in the heat outdoors; one way of caring for our workers to prevent heat strokes.  They then check and refill all sanitizing stations.  From there, they solve any maintenance issues at any of our PACI owned facilities.  Their motto is “Solutions! No excuses!”  And today, I want to recognize the team of Courtney Wisdom, Bruce Wright, Shane Stephenson and Damian Solomon for their outstanding work!  Thank you!

-Joseph Woods

Acting Port Director

The Port Authority cares about the safety and comfort of it’s staff and customers. In addition to the safety measures previously introduced,  it has now added a tent and seating for the comfort of customers attending the Billing Office to pay their cargo fees.

Did you know that the Port Authority can also issue exemptions for customers needing to collect their cargo and in the case of full container loads, authorize you to discharge it at your site?  Please email exemptions@caymanport.com and provide your name, or the name of your company, the names of employees that will be engaged in discharging the cargo and if it is LCL cargo, the Bill of Laden number.  Joseph Woods, Acting Port Director

The Port Authority is pleased you advise that it will temporarily be accommodating the local fish market at the South Terminal on Harbour Drive from its previous location on North Church Street.  This will allow the local fishermen to have a safe environment from which to conduct business.  They will be setting out and guiding the customer flow pattern to ensure social distancing is maintained by their customers and we ask that the public cooperate with them in achieving this.  The venue is on the roadside so it is easy to see and reach and there are restrooms available to the public during their operating times.  It is anticipated that they will commence operations during the week of May 11^th, 2020.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the dedicated staff of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) has been working hard for Cayman.  Their efforts ensure there is no delay in food reaching the grocery stores, medicines reaching our health care facilities, vehicles and supplies that keep essential services running and that Cayman will be ready for commerce when the government decides it is safe to resume.  Here are a few pictures of how we make it all happen for Cayman.

The cargo vessels arrive and are discharged by our dedicated staff during the night.

The cargo is taken to our Cargo Distribution Centre where it is available to the grocery stores that same night and to all customers from the following day onward by the team working daytime.

Customers with Less than Container Loads or those who need to discharge their dedicated containers request exemption letters from us via email at exemptions@caymanport.com

Port fees can be paid online if you register with us, or at our Billing Office on Portland Road.  Please note that:

• We ask customers/visitors to our facilities to wear some sort of covering over their nose and mouth.
• We have security controlling social distancing and customer flow.
• We have janitors disinfecting all door handles, counter surfaces etc upon the departure of one customer and prior to the entrance of the next customer.
• We have hand sanitizers wall mounted in all public and staff/offices.

And then barge with cargo and supplies for the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman is loaded for their weekly trip.

It takes a host of people to keep it all flowing; Cargo Operations nighttime and daytime, IT, Safety, HR, Finance and Billing, Facilities Maintenance, Human Resources, Harbour Patrol, Taxi Dispatchers (who have been reassigned duties with Facilities), Port Security and our contracted Security, K9 Security; our Janitors, A1 Cleaning Services and last, but not least, our Management and Administrative Team, who are working in excess of 12 hours most days.  I thank you all and I am proud of the service that you are giving to the Port Authority and our country!

Sincerely,

Joseph Woods

Acting Port Director.