The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Monday updated its Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for Cruise Ships (CSO) sailing in American waters.
The CSO is now a year old. It has been updated with new technical instructions that have permitted cruise operations to begin again in the U.S. in 2021, following a complete ban on cruising in the country early in the pandemic. The CSO had been due to expire completely at the end of OCT.
Rather than letting it expire, the CDC has extended the CSO, with Capt. Aimee Treffiletti, who leads the CDC's maritime unit, telling USA TODAY that “the pandemic isn’t over.”
She says the extension of the CSO is, "in the best interest of public health."
The CDC’s cruise expert acknowledged how much the industry has put into a safe return to cruising. "Despite, you know, really what have been the best efforts of the cruise industry to provide a safer and healthier environment for crew, passengers and communities, COVID-19 has still been a challenge, particularly with the delta variant."
The “Temporary Extension & Modification of the CSO” is now in effect until 15JAN, 2022, after which it becomes a purely voluntary set of guidelines for cruise lines to follow as a set of best practices in post-pandemic health and safety for the sake of the crew, pax, and residents in ports where cruise ships call.
The extension of the CSO comes with some new technical instructions relating to protocols like mask-wearing and testing, and apply to foreign-flagged ships. Many U.S.-based cruise lines sail foreign-flagged ships even in U.S. waters.
Dave Daigle, CDC spokesperson, told USA TODAY, "Foreign-flagged ships typically operate on international itineraries (and) outbreaks are more likely to require emergency evacuations while at sea which can burden U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency medical response resources," Daigle said. "Additionally, stopping in foreign ports increases the risk of introducing COVID-19 variants on board."
Following the CDC’s announcement of the extension of the CSO, CLIA issued a statement, saying, “The changes to the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), announced today, show that the Biden Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize the cruise industry’s successful resumption of operations.
“Cruise industry protocols are unique in their approach to monitor, detect, and respond to potential cases of COVID-19. As a result, CLIA-member ocean-going cruise ships are sailing today with some of the highest levels of COVID-19 mitigation of any industry.
“We look forward to demonstrating the industry’s continued leadership in this final phase of the CSO, and to carrying out a smooth transition when the Order comes to an end on 15 January 2022.”
