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Re-Starting the Cruise Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: Assessing Effectiveness of Port Contingency Planning

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  • Lemonia Anagnostopoulos

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larisa, Greece
    EU Joint Action HEALTHY GATEWAYS, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larisa, Greece)

  • Leonidas Kourentis

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larisa, Greece
    EU Joint Action HEALTHY GATEWAYS, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larisa, Greece)

  • Antonios Papadakis

    (Department of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes–Staurakia, 71110 Heraklion, Greece)

  • Varvara A. Mouchtouri

    (Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larisa, Greece
    EU Joint Action HEALTHY GATEWAYS, 22 Papakyriazi Street, 41222 Larisa, Greece)

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks on board cruise ships early in the pandemic highlighted gaps worldwide in public health emergency contingency plans (PHECPs) for responding to unknown threats. To restart cruise operations in 2021 and respond to potential COVID-19 outbreaks, a major tourist-based Greek island port (Port A) developed a COVID-19 PHECP. We assessed plan effectiveness by reviewing epidemiological data and monitoring outcomes, followed by an intra-action review (IAR) analyzing three event responses. From May to December 2021, 118 calls from 23 cruise ships with 119,930 passengers were recorded, with 29 COVID-19 cases in 11 cruises on board 7 ships. No outbreak was recorded during the study period. Strengths of the introduced PHECP included commitment of senior management; a core multi-disciplinary team of local authorities/ship agents involved in design and execution; interoperability agreements for port and ships’ PHECPs; cruise industry commitment to compliance; and pre-existing scenarios considering capacity needs. Central government coordination for preparedness planning at local ports is essential for successful responses. Monitoring local and country level response capacities is critical to inform planning, risk assessment, and decision-making. Immediately recording ports’ response actions provides the basis to capture lessons and improve contingency plans. To facilitate communication and common response protocols between European and non-European ports, IARs should be conducted between countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Lemonia Anagnostopoulos & Leonidas Kourentis & Antonios Papadakis & Varvara A. Mouchtouri, 2022. "Re-Starting the Cruise Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: Assessing Effectiveness of Port Contingency Planning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13262-:d:942405
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Choquet, Anne & Sam-Lefebvre, Awa, 2021. "Ports closed to cruise ships in the context of COVID-19: What choices are there for coastal states?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    2. Varvara A. Mouchtouri & Diederik Van Reusel & Nikolaos Bitsolas & Antonis Katsioulis & Raf Van den Bogaert & Björn Helewaut & Inge Steenhout & Dion Damman & Miguel Dávila Cornejo & Christos Hadjichris, 2018. "European Web-Based Platform for Recording International Health Regulations Ship Sanitation Certificates: Results and Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer & Natascha Mojtahedzadeh & Jan Heidrich & Kristina Militzer & Thomas von Münster & Lukas Belz & Hans-Joachim Jensen & Sinan Bakir & Esther Henning & Julian Heuser & Angelina Kl, 2021. "Systematic Review on Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 on Cruise, Navy and Cargo Ships," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-26, May.
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