Port Saint John Prepares For Possible COVID-19 Impacts

Port Saint John says it is too soon to know how the COVID-19 virus could impact this year’s cruise ship season.

Provincial and federal health authorities are warning Canadians to avoid all cruise ships for the time being.

The warning comes just weeks before the first cruise ship is expected to arrive in Saint John on April 24.

Jim Quinn, CEO of Port Saint John, said two-thirds of their cruise business does not arrive until September or October.

“My understanding is that it’s unpredicted right now whether the COVID-19 will be reduced as other flus may be reduced as we get into that May/June period,” said Quinn.

“There may be fewer passengers on those ships, but I’ve had no indication from the cruise lines themselves that they are cancelling any of the cruises at this time.”

Saint John is predicting a record-breaking cruise season in 2020, with over 90 vessel calls and more than 200,000 passengers expected.

Quinn, who also chairs the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, said he spoke with Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long this week and asked the federal government to take a “measured approach” to any further restrictions on cruise traffic.

“The impact of cruise ships coming to Canadian ports is significant. It’s in the hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s not just the ports, it’s the broader economy. So we’re asking that they take a measured step approach to any actions. For example, what I mean by that, if they move to another level of restriction, that they do so in a segmented way,” said Quinn.

Quinn said port officials are taking a look at what could happen if cruise ship revenues are down.

When asked if the port would seek a federal subsidy to offset lost revenue, Quinn said there are other steps they would consider first.

“I think that what we have to do is take the measured approach in what are the things that we can do as a company to reduce our expenditures if there’s a reduction in revenue. I think that’s the responsible thing to do,” he said.

Several cruise ships around the world have been quarantined after passengers tested positive for COVID-19.

Port Saint John says the federal government has a clearance system in place before ships enter Canadian ports

Quinn said ships must advise of any illnesses on board 96 hours before they arrive, and again at 24 hours.

“At that point, the public health agencies in particular, along with other government officials, would provide their advice and direction to ports. We would be fully cooperative and facilitate what needed to be done under their expertise and under their direction,” he said.

Employees at the port are facing new travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19. Quinn said all work-related travel — including trips which have already received approval — must be approved or re-approved by department heads.

“We’ll make a call based on the situation in those destinations,” he said.