Anutin blocks cruise ship turned away by three countries from docking at Laem Chabang

[webfact]

Anutin blocks cruise ship turned away by three countries from docking at Laem Chabang

By THE NATION

 

 

The Holland-US “MS Westerdam” cruise ship will not be allowed to dock at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province after having been turned away by three countries over fears of the new coronavirus spreading.

 

Referring to the company’s website, which stated that Thailand would allow the ship to dock at Laem Chabang Port on Thursday (February 13), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook page past midnight on Tuesday (February 11) that he had issued orders not to allow the ship to dock in Thailand.

 

 

The Japanese government had earlier prohibited the ship from docking at Yokohama Port to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, so the cruise company had turned to Thailand for help.

 

According to the previous arrangement, some 2,000 passengers would have disembarked in Chonburi and been transported directly to Don Mueang International Airport to board the planes to their home countries.

 

MS Westerdam was registered under Holland America Line with head office in Seattle, US. It left Singapore on January 16 for a month-long tour of Asia. It had picked up 600 passengers from Hong Kong on February 1. But it was denied docking by the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan, fearing there might be infected persons on the ship.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30381937

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-02-11

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[BobbyL]

Finally, a good decision. 

 

 

[Vacuum]

But but, there may be Chinese tourists on the ship. What was he thinking?

[worgeordie]

Must have been a very tough decision for him ,as they

were Chinese.

Regards Worgeordie

[RotBenz8888]

What a nightmare to be aboard that ship, not knowing where or when they'll be allowed to disembark. 

[tomazbodner]

Had the ship been Chinese, even if full of Wuhan residents, he would have probably welcomed it open arms. Hong Kong just ain't real China, it seems...

[darksidedog]

If it picked up the last passengers on Feb 1st, we are 80% through the incubation period, so if no one on board has fallen ill thus far, you would think it is looking pretty good. As they were to be taken straight to the airport and home the decision seems a little heavy, especially since it appears Thailand had agreed initially.

[Yadon Toploy]

Big loss of money to the local economy, Pattaya needs them etc.

 

Seriously the correct decision probably, but the question is how are these people going to get home if no country allows them to disembark?

[ChipButty]

They let the Germans dock in Samui

[NCC1701A]

4 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

If it picked up the last passengers on Feb 1st, we are 80% through the incubation period, so if no one on board has fallen ill thus far, you would think it is looking pretty good. As they were to be taken straight to the airport and home the decision seems a little heavy, especially since it appears Thailand had agreed initially.

look at this!

 

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/alarming-news-new-chinese-research-on-coronavirus-finds-incubation-period-of-up-to-24-days

[ozz1]

I guess if they  arrived by air it would be ok I don't understand their logic but it is Thailand

[petermik]

7 hours ago, ChipButty said:

They let the Germans dock in Samui

Samui is desperate for tourists....us in Chonburi are more selective......

[madmitch]

The other newspaper does state that one passenger is suspected of having coronavirus. Not clear in The Nation's report. And that's the reason that countries are refusing to allow passengers to leave the ship.

[kelboy]

Can't believe he still has a job. 

[DrTuner]

If it was a Chinese ship the military would be there spreading the red carpet.

[Surelynot]

What a ridiculous decision. No logic whatsoever. Maybe having lost face recently he felt he had to be seen to do something tough. Idiot. 

[Salerno]

What a ridiculous post.

[JustAnotherHun]

If Anutin blocks a ship there might be no chinese national on board ????

[gk10002000]

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

t was denied docking by the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan,

That is quite a bit of sea to motor around in looking for a port.  No interest in Korea?  Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia ( too close to where they started from),

Edited February 11, 2020 by gk10002000

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

59 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

But but, there may be Chinese tourists on the ship. What was he thinking?

 

Perhaps he'll come to his senses, eventually....  Or Big P will overrule him again...

 

How much money could have been made transporting 2000+ cruise ship passengers from Laem Chabang to Don Mueang???  Then duty free sales at the airport. Maybe require them all to pay for a Thai "medical certificate"

 

It could have been a real money spinner if they had played it right!

Edited February 11, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Creasy]

On the news this morning they said that Thailand had given permission for the ship to dock.

 

I wonder what changed their mind ?

[Dcheech]

21 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

As they were to be taken straight to the airport and home the decision seems a little heavy, especially since it appears Thailand had agreed initially.

As he did a major pooch screw, Looks as if the Government is allowing him to have this moment, for Positive PR spin in the public's eyes. ANd for sure, the public will like it! 

 

The Government like their Health Minister!   ???? hmmmmmmmmmm

 

 

[Dumbastheycome]

The "change of Mind" might be due to one or more passengers starting to display symptoms?

Docking  and disembarking are two different issues. I can only imagine the possible paranoid fear of being confined to a ship if a contagion broke out. Especially when many of the passengers are most likely to be in the age group shown to be  most vulnerable to serious complications.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

3 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

 

Docking  and disembarking are two different issues. I can only imagine the possible paranoid fear of being confined to a ship if a contagion broke out. Especially when many of the passengers are most likely to be in the age group shown to be  most vulnerable to serious complications.

 

Look at what's happened with the Princess Cruises ship docked in Japan... 

 

They haven't even tested all of the 3700+ passengers and crew on the ship, only those showing evident signs of illness. And the confirmed CV cases count off that one ship alone -- people who the Japan health system is now having to care for -- is now up to 135 people, and probably will climb even higher.

 

That tally alone is more than 4 times the current number of confirmed cases that Thailand is reporting at 32 for the entire country.

 

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

What a difference a few hours makes, NPR updated this report last night U.S. time:

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/10/804440928/diamond-princess-cruise-ship-has-65-more-coronavirus-cases-in-japan

 

Quote

 

Another cruise ship, Holland America's MS Westerdam, is now on its way to Thailand after spending several days with nowhere to go when Japan — its final destination — denied entry to several of its ports, including Yokohama. Officials in Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam also had denied entry.
 

Holland America called the predicament "a very dynamic situation." 

 

 

Edited February 11, 2020 by metisdead
Edited as per fair use policy.

[manchega]

I was reading that article about US not reporting its swine flu and what ever one it was 2018 or 2019 or the year before until deaths had topped out 900, then it started reporting a possible pandemic.

 

The US propaganda machine works very well and based on intelligence running Thai government it does not need to try very hard.

 

Perhaps Thailand can accept all coronavirus infected people from all over the world and see if more of them die or do more road users die over a period of 3 months, I think the answer would be the same even if those with existing conditions were included in the stats.

 

Perhaps we can have anutin walk on pavements of Bangkok to see where real health issues lie, he is welcome to keep his surgical mask on, that will lose its effectivness after 10 minutes and will remain inneffective against the pollution particles

 

[holy cow cm]

47 minutes ago, Creasy said:

On the news this morning they said that Thailand had given permission for the ship to dock.

 

I wonder what changed their mind ?

Nope, Still remains they are denied as a passenger is thought to have the virus onboard. 

[graemeaylward]

Surely no problem if they all wear face masks personally handed to them by Anutin!

[RichardColeman]

So, plugging the port hole whilst still unplugging the airport hole - wont mention the borders, I'm sure the people crossing from Laos and Myanmar and Cambodia or whatever all have doctors notes and are neatly tested before entry

[spidermike007]

Considering that they are still welcoming Chinese tourists with open arms, this decision seems peculiar. No cases were detected on this ship, and it has been out to sea for some time. And these folks were going to head directly for the airport from Chonburi. I would guess this is a PR stunt, to make up for his horrendous showing so far. This guy is beyond incompetent, and should have been replaced already, with someone who has experience in the health field.