Cruise News - Maritime News

United States Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) have introduced the Set Sail Safely Act that would establish a Maritime Task Force, in coordination with a Private Sector Advisory Committee, to address the health, safety, security, and logistical changes needed to develop a roadmap for cruise lines to resume operations.

Currently, cruise lines are under a Centers for Disease Control No Sail Order until September 30, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Florida is a tourism state with thousands of jobs relying on the success of our ports, cruise lines and maritime industries,” Scott said. “Over the past few months, I’ve had many conversations with leaders at Florida ports, federal agencies, and within the cruise industry about how to ensure the safety of passengers and employees. As we work to solve the coronavirus and safely reopen our economy, this legislation will support the development of guidelines needed to ensure the safe resumption of our cruise lines and port operations. I will continue to work with Floridians, industry and federal leaders to safely bring back this industry, which is important to our state’s economic success.”

“On behalf of the wider cruise community, including nearly 44,000 American travel advisors and hundreds of small and medium sized businesses in the US that provide products and services to cruise lines, CLIA joins our port partners in thanking Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio for their leadership in introducing this important legislation,” Adam Goldstein, Global Chair, the Cruise Lines International Association said.

Set Sail Safely Act is much-needed legislation

 “The cruise industry is an important economic contributor in the United States, supporting nearly half a million US jobs, and over 150,000 in Florida alone, prior to the pandemic. The Senators’ bill draws much needed attention to the importance of strategic dialogue between appropriate federal agencies and a broad group of public and private sector stakeholders to safely advance a resumption of cruising in the US that mirrors the gradual and successful restart of cruise operations in Europe.”

“America’s port authorities appreciate and applaud Senator Scott’s leadership in introducing a bill to establish a Maritime Task Force and a private sector advisory committee to address the myriad issues relating to resumption of US cruise operations during the COVID–19 public health emergency,” Christopher J. Connor, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities, said.

Set Sail Safely Act:

Require the proper federal agencies, led by the US Department of Homeland Security, to work together with input from private sector stakeholders to develop a plan for the safe resumption of cruise line operations.

The Maritime Task Force would include representatives from several federal agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, US Coast Guard, Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Department of State and the Federal Maritime Commission.

Private Sector stakeholders would include representatives from the passenger cruise line industry, US ports, commercial fishermen, small businesses and health professionals.

Create a timeline for meetings of the Task Force, recommendations, and implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations

www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/9/rubio-scott-lead-bill-to-ensure-safety-of-cruise-line-passengers-and-employees

www.rickscott.senate.gov/sen-rick-scott-leads-bill-ensure-safety-cruise-line-passengers-and-employees