SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia is pushing foreign-flagged cruise ships to leave its territorial waters amid the coronavirus pandemic, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it also tries to bring home citizens trapped on ships abroad.
Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan on Wednesday called on the federal government to kick out the German-owned MV Artania after the crew was reported to have asked the Australian Border Force (ABF) for permission to stay until April 14.
“If what’s required is to clean the ship as a condition of getting it underway, well then do that … but get the ship away from Western Australia as soon as possible,” WA Premier Mark McGowan told reporters, adding there were six to nine other ships off Sydney.
Cruise ships are responsible for at least 20% of Australia’s 4,800 coronavirus cases nationally, and the source of public anger after passengers from Carnival Corp’s Ruby Princess were allowed to disembark in Sydney and several later tested positive for COVID-19.
In the wake of that incident and amid fears cruise ships were essentially super carriers of the virus, the federal government barred them from docking at Australian port, except in emergencies.
The Artania was permitted to dock last week to allow for the