208 Filipino Seafarers Homeward Bound after Weeks at UAE Ports

DUBAI 12 April 2020 – A total of 208 Filipino crew members of various cruise ships by  Norwegian Cruise Lines were repatriated to the Philippines on 12 April 2020 after spending six weeks at Port Zayed in Abu Dhabi and Port Rashid in Dubai.

Norwegian Cruise Lines Holdings, Ltd, which owns and operates MV Norwegian Jade, SS Nautica, and SS Voyager, arranged for their return home via a special Emirates chartered flight. A batch composed of 207 of their shipmates were similarly repatriated on 11 April 2020.

Philippine Consul General to Dubai Paul Raymund P. Cortes, Deputy Consul General Renato Duenas Jr, and the Dubai Assistance-to-Nationals Team were on hand at Dubai International Airport at their send-off.

Each of the 208 crew members were in good spirits as they went through thermal screening at the airport’s departure area. Consul General Cortes thanked representatives of the cruise lines’ shipping agent, The Kanoo Group, which handled the arrangements for their repatriation on the ground.

The seafarers expressed great relief that they would finally be able to be with their loved ones after spending weeks mostly confined to their cabins. They were very thankful that they have remained healthy throughout the quarantine period prior to their departure for Manila. They will likewise undergo further quarantine procedure conducted by the Bureau of Quarantine upon arrival in Manila. END