It has been confirmed that the "Diamond Princess" cruise ship which was quarantined in Yokohama Port due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 will be docked at the Morshed Cruise Center (BCC) in the Port of Klang on the 26th or 27th of this month to replenish supplies and fuel.

  
Photo source: Malay Mail

Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Chong Sin Woon said that the "Diamond Princess" cruise ship has been certified by the Japan Quarantine Authorities to confirm no Covid-19 cases on board. All the original crew and passengers have disembarked, only a new crew with 172 members on board, and no passengers.

According to Malay Mail,

“On May 17, Japan Times online news reported that MV Diamond Princess is on its way to Malaysia. It is scheduled to arrive at Boustead Cruise Centre (BCC) on May 26 or 27 and will leave the port within one to two days. The agents for this cruise ship sent in their application to the Health Department (Ministry of Health) and Immigration Department on May 12 to dock at BCC for the purpose of replenishing its stores and refueling."

“Their application has been referred to Port Klang Health Department for approval and clearance, as per the standard operation procedure (SOP). We have no information where the cruise ship’s next port after Port Klang,” Datuk Chong Sin Woon said in a statement today.

“There will be no signing off of any crew at BCC. For the record, cruise ships are permitted to berth at Malaysia’s ports for disembarking of Malaysian passengers and crew, replenishment of stores, refueling, and repairs.

“PKA and the other related government agencies are subjected to provision and regulations of the Ministry of Health (MOH) and we will strictly comply. All decisions from the MOH with regards to this is final and will be adhered to by PKA and the related agencies,” said Chong.

Port Klang as a leading maritime hub in the region will render assistance to service cruise vessels’ primary needs in this challenging time.

Cover photo: Sinchew | Malay Mail