Cruise liner granted permission to dock in Durban today
The MS Amsterdam cruise ship has been granted permission to dock in Durban today.
The vessel, which isn't carrying passengers, had asked to restock and refuel at our port on Sunday.
Five hundred fifty-nine crew members are on board, including five South Africans.
The vessel's master had said, a few days ago, that some people had flu-like symptoms.
READ: Cruise liner awaits permission to dock in Durban
Tests were then conducted by our Health Department, and they all came back negative.
The group of South Africans and two other crew members will be allowed to disembark from the Amsterdam.
It's the last cruise vessel with a scheduled call to Durban this season.
The ship's been on a four-month global tour that began in Florida, United States of America.
Due to COVID-19, the cruise ended prematurely in Australia last month.
The Amsterdam's now sailing back to America.
So far, the only cruises in South Africa that have confirmed COVID-19 cases were the two MSC Orchestra cruises of 28 February and 13 March.
A passenger, from each trip, tested positive for the virus.
Contact tracing has been underway.
