Sunday, May 28, 2023
HomeHeadlinesU.S. Appeals Court Blocks Suspension of CDC Cruise Ship Rules by Florida

Subscribe

To our FREE newsletter
Get all the latest maritime news delivered straight to your inbox.

U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Suspension of CDC Cruise Ship Rules by Florida

A U.S. appeals court late Saturday in a 2-1 ruling put on hold a lower-court decision that said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could not enforce its coronavirus cruise ship rules in the state.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday in siding with Republican-led Florida found the state was “highly likely” to show the CDC exceeded its authority in adopting rules governing the resumption of cruise ship sailing.

The brief order from the 11th Circuit panel came about 10 minutes before Merryday’s ruling was to take effect on Sunday, which would have made the CDC rules a non-binding recommendation rather than mandatory.

The CDC in May began approving some cruise operations after lengthy talks with the industry about health and safety protocols.

Its conditional sail order said cruise lines that ensured at least 95% of passengers and nearly all crew were vaccinated could bypass simulated voyages and move more quickly to resuming commercial trips.

The Justice Department said last week in a filing with the appeals court that “there is no basis to lift the COVID-19 health and safety protocols that were developed by (CDC) in collaboration with the cruise ship industry.”

The CDC declined to comment Sunday.

The offices of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state Attorney General Ashley Moody did not immediately comment on Sunday. DeSantis had argued the CDC rules disregarded “the freedom of Floridians to make decisions for their families.

Florida, a major hub for cruise operators, said in April its ports had suffered a decline in operating revenue of almost $300 million since the pandemic started.

On Tuesday, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings sued the state of Florida saying a state law was preventing it “from safely and soundly resuming passenger cruise operations” from Miami starting August 15. A judge has set an Aug. 6 preliminary injunction hearing.

Florida state law expressly prohibits cruise lines from requiring documentation of COVID-19 vaccines.

[reuters]

Related Posts

Video

Finance & Economy
Shipping News
Ports

Seanergy ‘well positioned to benefit from positive trend in Capesize market’

Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp., announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023, and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.025 per...

Dorian LPG sees Q1 revenue more than double year-on-year

Dorian LPG reported its financial results for the three months and fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. Highlights for the Fourth Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Revenues of $133.6 million.Time...

Navios Holdings Posts $14.5 Mln Net Income in Q1

Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Navios Holdings owns (i) a controlling equity stake...

BW LPG posts ‘strongest quarterly performance on record’

BW LPG has recorded its ‘strongest quarterly performance on record’ in the first three months of 2023. The company was boosted by strong exports...

ONE, Wan Hai agree to pay civil penalties to FMC

Ocean Network Express (ONE) will pay a US$1.7 million civil penalty to avoid a formal investigation by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) for...

Nikolaus H. Schües elected BIMCO President

BIMCO has elected Nikolaus H. Schües , CEO and owner of Reederei F. Laeisz,...

Baltic Dry Bulk Index Ends Worst Day In Over Three Months

The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index declined the most since mid-February on Thursday...

Maritime UK appoints new Chief Executive Officer

Maritime UK, the umbrella organisation for the UK’s maritime sector, has appointed Chris Shirling-Rooke...

Baltic dry bulk index extends slide for 10th straight session

The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index of shipping rates for dry bulk commodities...

Baltic index hits over two-month trough on lower rates across vessels

The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index slumped to its lowest level in over...

DP World Completes Terminal Expansion Project Vancouver Port

DP World has completed the AED954 million ($259.78 million) Centerm expansion project, increasing container throughput at the Port of Vancouver by 60 percent. The terminal...

DP World completes AED 954 million Vancouver port expansion

DP World and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority have celebrated two historic events – the completion of the Centerm Expansion Project at DP World...

Alexandroupolis port gets 24 million euros of EU funding

Greece has secured 24 million euros ($26 million) in European Union funding to upgrade its northern Aegean Sea port of Alexandroupolis, privatisation agency HRADF...

Port Hedland Iron Ore Exports Down 5% in April

Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has delivered a total monthly throughput of 57.7 million tonnes (Mt) for April 2023. This throughput was a two per cent...

APM Terminals Reveals $1 Billion Investment in Brazil

APM Terminals’ CEO Keith Svendsen has pledged an investment of about US$1 billion in the company's Brazilian operations up to 2026. The amount includes around...