Non-arrival of scheduled cruise ship visits

Summary

The Guild of Manx Registered Tour Guides requested details on why two scheduled cruise ships failed to arrive in July 2022, citing confusion over official statements. The Department for Enterprise disclosed internal emails indicating the cancellations were decisions made by the cruise lines due to new public health testing requirements and logistical challenges, rather than government refusal.

Key Facts

• The request was submitted on behalf of the Guild of Manx Registered Tour Guides (GMRTG).
• Two ships, 'Seven Seas Voyager' and 'Sirena', were scheduled to arrive on July 1st and 2nd, 2022, but did not.
• Internal emails reveal the cancellations were decisions made by the cruise companies, not the Isle of Man government.
• The primary reasons cited for the non-arrival were new Covid testing requirements from Public Health and ground transport challenges.
• The Department for Enterprise outcome was 'Some information sent but not all held'.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-07-15
• 2022-08-03
• 1st July 2022
• 2nd July 2022
• 698 passengers
• 688 passengers
• 11th July
• 15 excursions
• 127 pages
• 21 documents

Original Request

This Freedom of Information request is submitted on behalf of the Guild of Manx Registered Tour Guides (GMRTG). Please provide the information held by the Department for Enterprise and its political members that explains why the following two cruise ships, due to arrive on the 1st & 2nd July 2022, did not do so. * 'Seven Seas Voyager' of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, circa 698 passengers (1st July) * 'Sirena' of Oceania Cruises, circa 688 passengers (2nd July) Information that would particularly be welcomed includes, but is not necessarily confined to: * The timeline of information provided to, or by, the Department, from whom or what organisation this was received, when it was received, and by whom it was considered. * What decisions were made, and when, by officials or political members of the Department, or agents acting for the Department, in relation to consideration of that information. * Copies of emails, briefing notes, or any other documentation relating to this matter. * Details of any advice sought from, or provided by, public health agencies in the Isle of Man or elsewhere. * Details of all communication between the Department and the ships/cruise companies involved, by whom, and when, this communication was undertaken. Information published to date refers to 'cancellations', but such information has been muddled, unclear and opaque. This includes the 'Statement' in the name of R. Callister MHK and a video broadcast published by Isle of Man Television. Therefore, clear and unambiguous information about the reason for the non-arrivals is requested. Many members of the Guild were booked to provide guiding and other services for passengers of these ships and the 'cancellations' deprived them of that income. The Guild and other local service providers are also concerned that any decisions or apparent lack of commitment to cruise ships on the part of the Isle of Man government may discourage other companies from visiting the Island. Chair GMRTG

Data Tables (59)

Full Response Text

1 Morter, David From: Callister, Rob Sent: 01 July 2022 08:41 To: Lewin, Mark (DFE) Cc: Wilkinson, Nicola Subject: RE: Cancellation of cruise ship calls 1st & 2nd July 2022 Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Completed Ok, thank you so much Mark

Kind regards

Rob Callister CMgr, FCMI, MICA, Dip.(ITM), MHK House of Keys Member for Onchan

Legislative Buildings Finch Road Douglas IM1 3PW Tel: 01624 - 651513 Mobile: 07624-457511 Email: rob.callister@gov.im Website:https:// www.robcallister.im

From: Lewin, Mark (DFE) Mark.Lewin@gov.im
Sent: 01 July 2022 08:29 To: Callister, Rob Rob.Callister@gov.im Cc: Wilkinson, Nicola Nicola.Wilkinson@gov.im Subject: RE: Cancellation of cruise ship calls 1st & 2nd July 2022

Thanks Rob
Nicola can we explain direct that this was a decision by the ship, there were some challenges on the ground including transport and covid and ultimately our hope would be that these decisions made would not be repeated

And apologise Thanks M

From: Callister, Rob Rob.Callister@gov.im
Sent: 01 July 2022 07:09 To: David Midghall @tours.co.im; @palace.co.im; Byrne, Angela Angela.Byrne@gov.im Cc: Crookall, Tim (MHK) Tim.Crookall@gov.im Subject: Re: Cancellation of cruise ship calls 1st & 2nd July 2022

Morning ,

Thank you so much for the correspondence.

Unfortunately, on occasion cruise ships are diverted or cancelled with little or no information, especially due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
2

I will ask my DfE colleague Nicola Wilkinson to provide a further update this morning on the cancellation of the cruise ship this weekend.

In the meantime, I can only offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.

Kind regards

Rob Callister CMgr, FCMI, MICA, Dip.(ITM) Member of the House of Keys for Onchan

Legislative Buildings Finch Road Douglas IM1 3PW Tel: 01624 - 651513 Mobile: 07624-457511 Email: robcallister@manx.net Email: rob.callister@gov.im On 1 July 2022 at 07:06:06 GMT+1, @tours.co.im> wrote: Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Morning Rob,

I received at 18:11 yesterday evening an email from at Cair Vie cruise services of the cancellation of cruise ship calls for today and tomorrow. This is because of new Covid testing requirements brought in yesterday by Public Health, Norwegian Cruise Line have made the decision to cancel both calls due for tomorrow and Saturday. They also have another visit on 11th July. As for the rest of the cruise programme for this season I do not know what will happen.

I do not know what these measures are but my question is will the same be brought in for other visitors and residents returning to the island? Interesting that Tynwald guests from all over the world arrive tomorrow.

Coaches are now parked up over 2 days that should have been doing a total of 15 excursions, very damaging for us and the visitor economy sector. Frustratingly, we have turned other local work down as we were fully booked.

Best Regards

Managing Director Tours Isle of Man Limited 4 Akerman Court Balthane Estate Ballasalla Isle of Man IM9 2AJ email: @tours.co.im 3 www.tours.co.im Office Phone: 07624 453681 Mobile: 07624 475261

1 Morter, David From: Lewin, Mark (DFE) Sent: 01 July 2022 08:29 To: Callister, Rob Cc: Wilkinson, Nicola Subject: RE: Cancellation of cruise ship calls 1st & 2nd July 2022 Thanks Rob
Nicola can we explain direct that this was a decision by the ship, there were some challenges on the ground including transport and covid and ultimately our hope would be that these decisions made would not be repeated

And apologise Thanks M

From: Callister, Rob
Sent: 01 July 2022 07:09 To: ; @palace.co.im; Byrne, Angela
Cc: Crookall, Tim (MHK)
Subject: Re: Cancellation of cruise ship calls 1st & 2nd July 2022

Morning ,

Thank you so much for the correspondence.

Unfortunately, on occasion cruise ships are diverted or cancelled with little or no information, especially due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

I will ask my DfE colleague Nicola Wilkinson to provide a further update this morning on the cancellation of the cruise ship this weekend.

In the meantime, I can only offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.

Kind regards

Rob Callister CMgr, FCMI, MICA, Dip.(ITM) Member of the House of Keys for Onchan

Legislative Buildings Finch Road Douglas IM1 3PW Tel: 01624 - 651513 Mobile: 07624-457511 Email: robcallister@manx.net Email: rob.callister@gov.im

On 1 July 2022 at 07:06:06 GMT+1, wrote: 2 Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Morning Rob,

I received at 18:11 yesterday evening an email from at Cair Vie cruise services of the cancellation of cruise ship calls for today and tomorrow. This is because of new Covid testing requirements brought in yesterday by Public Health, Norwegian Cruise Line have made the decision to cancel both calls due for tomorrow and Saturday. They also have another visit on 11th July. As for the rest of the cruise programme for this season I do not know what will happen.

I do not know what these measures are but my question is will the same be brought in for other visitors and residents returning to the island? Interesting that Tynwald guests from all over the world arrive tomorrow.

Coaches are now parked up over 2 days that should have been doing a total of 15 excursions, very damaging for us and the visitor economy sector. Frustratingly, we have turned other local work down as we were fully booked.

Best Regards

Managing Director Tours Isle of Man Limited 4 Akerman Court Balthane Estate Ballasalla Isle of Man IM9 2AJ email: @tours.co.im www.tours.co.im Office Phone: 07624 453681 Mobile: 07624 475261

1 Morter, David From: Callister, Rob Sent: 01 July 2022 07:09 To: ; @palace.co.im; Byrne, Angela Cc: Crookall, Tim (MHK) Subject: Re: Cancellation of cruise ship calls 1st & 2nd July 2022 Morning ,

Thank you so much for the correspondence.

Unfortunately, on occasion cruise ships are diverted or cancelled with little or no information, especially due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

I will ask my DfE colleague Nicola Wilkinson to provide a further update this morning on the cancellation of the cruise ship this weekend.

In the meantime, I can only offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused by this cancellation.

Kind regards

Rob Callister CMgr, FCMI, MICA, Dip.(ITM) Member of the House of Keys for Onchan

Legislative Buildings Finch Road Douglas IM1 3PW Tel: 01624 - 651513 Mobile: 07624-457511 Email: robcallister@manx.net Email: rob.callister@gov.im

On 1 July 2022 at 07:06:06 GMT+1, wrote: Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Morning Rob, I received at 18:11 yesterday evening an email from at Cair Vie cruise services of the cancellation of cruise ship calls for today and tomorrow. This is because of new Covid testing requirements brought in yesterday by Public Health, Norwegian Cruise Line have made the decision to cancel both calls due for tomorrow and Saturday. They also have another visit on 11th July. As for the rest of the cruise programme for this season I do not know what will happen.
I do not know what these measures are but my question is will the same be brought in for other visitors and residents returning to the island? Interesting that Tynwald guests from all over the world arrive tomorrow. 2 Coaches are now parked up over 2 days that should have been doing a total of 15 excursions, very damaging for us and the visitor economy sector. Frustratingly, we have turned other local work down as we were fully booked.
Best Regards

Managing Director Tours Isle of Man Limited 4 Akerman Court Balthane Estate Ballasalla Isle of Man IM9 2AJ email: @tours.co.im www.tours.co.im Office Phone: 07624 453681 Mobile: 07624 475261

1 Morter, David From: info@ramsey-shipping.com Sent: 30 June 2022 18:03 To: ; ; DOI, Marine Operations Centre; ; Glenleven; ; ; Laxey Towing Company Ltd (clovenstones@hotmail.com); Grace, Paul (DOI); DOI, Port Security Admin; Hollows, Yvette Cc: info@ramsey-shipping.com Subject: Cruise Liners - 2022 - Cancellations Caution: This email is from an external sender. Please take care before opening any attachments or following any links.
Good evening,

Please note the cancellation of both Seven Seas Voyager due to arrive tomorrow and Sirena due to arrive 2nd July due to Covid testing requirements imposed by IOM Government today.

Best regards

Ships Agent

Ramsey Shipping Services Ltd Ramsey Shipyard Shipyard Road Ramsey Isle of Man, IM8 3DT

Office: 01624 817453 Mobile: 07624 453095 Email: info@ramsey-shipping.com www.ramsey-shipping.com

Confidentiality Notice: This message (including any attachments) is private and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any unauthorised disclosure, copying, distribution or use of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please delete it from your system and notify the sender immediately.  Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

Thanks and best regards

1 Morter, David From: Lewin, Mark (DFE) Sent: 01 July 2022 14:30 To: Crookall, Tim (MHK); Hooper, Lawrie Cc: Randall, Caldric (CSO); Wilkinson, Nicola; Van Woerden, Hugo (Professor); Lord- Brennan, Kate (MHK) Subject: RE: Cruise Liners and Covid. Ministers

Further to my earlier note we’ve identified with Professor Van Woerden’s help that the difference on this ship compared to previous ones was that the Ship’s Doctor believed the situation on board was significant enough to warrant a declaration and form to be submitted to the target port.

On this basis, that the ship’s doctor has a concern, it is understandable that the relevant local authorities had a responsibility to at least consider that concern and, if appropriate consider any appropriate mitigations.

We are now being asked to give some clarity to the industry generally (20+ cruises still to arrive this year) and the suggestion therefore is to clarify that we do not ordinarily plan on requiring testing for passengers disembarking, but that if there is a medical situation declared by the doctor that passes that first threshold, then we will always be required to at least consider the position on board, and domestically at that point in time.

Whilst our desire remains to support the industry and this sector, such a declaration may result in the added request for non-symptomatic passengers to have a recent negative test, and suggest we will provide such tests if that is an issue.

Our hope would be that most cruises do not have a significant outbreak that warrants a declaration and on that basis no additional testing or controls would be required, and for a relatively small outbreak we may still be able to take a view depending on the numbers involved and the Island’s domestic position at that point to allow asymptomatic passengers to disembark without tests.

That will however very much need to be determined nearer the time depending on the position and can only be determined on a case by case basis depending on the situation recorded.

It would be helpful if you could confirm this is broadly an approach you are supportive of.

Kind regards Mark

From: Lewin, Mark (DFE)
Sent: 01 July 2022 08:09 To: Crookall, Tim (MHK) ; Lord-Brennan, Kate (MHK) ; Hooper, Lawrie
Cc: Randall, Caldric (CSO) ; Wilkinson, Nicola ; Van Woerden, Hugo (Professor)
Subject: RE: Cruise Liners and Covid.

Morning Minister

In summary it was the ship companies themselves that made the decision to divert to Liverpool instead of the Isle of Man and did so on the basis of the prevalence of Covid on the Ship and on the Island.

There were two issues the teams across Government have been dealing with over the last few days:

2 1) Transport – whilst Tours did have some business booked, so did Bus Vannin and there was a shortage of drivers / buses to accommodate everyone due to covid / staff absences within Bus Vannin and as such some trips were cancelled and some were actively being moved to walking tours. We were in touch with DOI and they were doing their best but we simply couldn’t manage the volume predicted today / tomorrow as originally planned.
2) Covid – whilst the above was a challenge, the ships were working through it and we were hoping to still welcome them. However on Wednesday we (through Public Health and Professor Van Woerden who I have copied in) were alerted to an outbreak on the vessel due to visit today. Some 37 guests / staff had been identified, were isolated and a number were on medication. Public Health called an incident meeting yesterday concerned that this was more an outbreak, than individual cases, and as a result, the ship was informed that they would still be able to arrive, BUT that all passengers planning on disembarking would be asked to have had a negative test within the last 24 hours. There are regulations available to Public Health to make this request.

Conversely we assume that if the vessels go to Liverpool there are no requirements – no tests and even those passengers in isolation can disembark and clearly there is sufficient infrastructure in Liverpool for people to be accommodated

The notification of the Covid situation came to us unusually through UK authorities and there is still work to understand why this one was different

There will be a further discussion today and I have assured the cruise consultants that the Covid request for negative tests was a specific ask in response to the outbreak on the ship – not our ordinary processes. Clearly we have potentially many hundreds of people arrive on a daily basis and we don’t test them – and there is no suggestion we should look to change that. However if we understand an active outbreak is underway across a concentrated number, then it was always understood Public Health may make additional requests.

In conclusion, this is a blow, but a culmination of two issues being dealt with and the companies determined the level of Covid on the Island (leading to cancellations of tours), and the additional tests were not something they wished to expose their customers to.

I was fully expecting when the request was made to them yesterday afternoon for the ne

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