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EXCLUSIVE: Two giant cruise ships on standby to act as floating hospitals at Tilbury Docks as UK cruise company offers them to the government to help cope with coronavirus crisis
Published: 01:51 AEDT, 20 March 2020 | Updated: 03:48 AEDT, 20 March 2020
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Two giant cruise ships berthed in the River Thames are on stand-by to be used as floating hospitals, Mail Online can reveal.
The British owners of the Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire are understood to have put the vessels at the disposal of the Government should they be needed.
No decision has yet been taken to use the luxury vessels but if hospitals become overwhelmed they could be put into action.
There are more than 2,000 cabins on the ships that could be used to isolate patients, freeing up hospital beds and taken the strain from the NHS.
Mail Online understands the Saga Group have written to the Government to offer their cruise ships currently berthed at Tilbury Docks.
The two vessels, along with two foreign registered cruise ships sailed into Tilbury earlier this week.
Saga's massive vessel arrives up the Thames to be anchored in Tilbury
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'The only people on the ships are the crew. It is usual as they are berthed where cargo ships normally tie up. Tilbury is a very busy port so to have them here for so long shows how bad the situation is.'
The £346m Spirit of Discovery is Britain's newest cruise liner having been launched last year and christened by the Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall before its maiden voyage.
It can cater for up to 999 guests and has a crew of more than 400.
Until it schedule was cancelled the liner was due to undertake cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Arctic and New England.
Mail Online understands the Saga Group have written to the Government to offer their cruise ships currently berthed at Tilbury Docks (pictured is the Spirit of Discovery)
The Saga Sapphire usually sails from Southampton but with no space available it was directed to Tilbury alongside the Spirit of Discovery
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays.
It has over 2.7m customers and operates the two cruise ships now in London.
A spokesman for Saga declined to comment.
The Port of Tilbury said: 'The Port of Tilbury is helping a number of our valued cruise line customers at a very difficult time for the industry.
'We are currently providing safe and suitable river and inner berth locations for five cruise vessels with two more due in April.
'These vessels are our regular customers and we are supporting them while their ships are not operational.'
Two other cruise ships the Viking Star and British owned Astoria are also in Tilbury. A fifth ship Magellan (pictured) is berthed just outside the busy docks
The Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire usually sail from Southampton but with no space available were directed to Tilbury.
A tugboat operator at Tilbury said in his 40 years of working he had never seen so many cruise ships berthed at the same time.
'We heard that they will be used as floating hospitals if they are needed. It does make sense as anyone who has the virus can be isolated in their cabin,' said a port worker.
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'The only people on the ships are the crew. It is usual as they are berthed where cargo ships normally tie up. Tilbury is a very busy port so to have them here for so long shows how bad the situation is.'
The £346m Spirit of Discovery is Britain's newest cruise liner having been launched last year and christened by the Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall before its maiden voyage.
It can cater for up to 999 guests and has a crew of more than 400.
Until it schedule was cancelled the liner was due to undertake cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Arctic and New England.
+7
Mail Online understands the Saga Group have written to the Government to offer their cruise ships currently berthed at Tilbury Docks (pictured is the Spirit of Discovery)
+7
The Saga Sapphire usually sails from Southampton but with no space available it was directed to Tilbury alongside the Spirit of Discovery
+7
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays.
It has over 2.7m customers and operates the two cruise ships now in London.
A spokesman for Saga declined to comment.
The Port of Tilbury said: 'The Port of Tilbury is helping a number of our valued cruise line customers at a very difficult time for the industry.
'We are currently providing safe and suitable river and inner berth locations for five cruise vessels with two more due in April.
'These vessels are our regular customers and we are supporting them while their ships are not operational.'
- British owners of Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire are understood to have handed ships to government
- No decision has yet been taken to use the vessels but if hospitals are overwhelmed they could be put to use
- With more than 2,000 cabins on the ships that could be used to isolate patients it would free up hospital beds
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Published: 01:51 AEDT, 20 March 2020 | Updated: 03:48 AEDT, 20 March 2020
54kshares
244
View
comments
Two giant cruise ships berthed in the River Thames are on stand-by to be used as floating hospitals, Mail Online can reveal.
The British owners of the Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire are understood to have put the vessels at the disposal of the Government should they be needed.
No decision has yet been taken to use the luxury vessels but if hospitals become overwhelmed they could be put into action.
There are more than 2,000 cabins on the ships that could be used to isolate patients, freeing up hospital beds and taken the strain from the NHS.
Mail Online understands the Saga Group have written to the Government to offer their cruise ships currently berthed at Tilbury Docks.
The two vessels, along with two foreign registered cruise ships sailed into Tilbury earlier this week.
Saga's massive vessel arrives up the Thames to be anchored in Tilbury
You must log in or register to see images
+7
Share this article
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'The only people on the ships are the crew. It is usual as they are berthed where cargo ships normally tie up. Tilbury is a very busy port so to have them here for so long shows how bad the situation is.'
The £346m Spirit of Discovery is Britain's newest cruise liner having been launched last year and christened by the Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall before its maiden voyage.
It can cater for up to 999 guests and has a crew of more than 400.
Until it schedule was cancelled the liner was due to undertake cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Arctic and New England.
You must log in or register to see images
Mail Online understands the Saga Group have written to the Government to offer their cruise ships currently berthed at Tilbury Docks (pictured is the Spirit of Discovery)
You must log in or register to see images
The Saga Sapphire usually sails from Southampton but with no space available it was directed to Tilbury alongside the Spirit of Discovery
You must log in or register to see images
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays.
It has over 2.7m customers and operates the two cruise ships now in London.
A spokesman for Saga declined to comment.
The Port of Tilbury said: 'The Port of Tilbury is helping a number of our valued cruise line customers at a very difficult time for the industry.
'We are currently providing safe and suitable river and inner berth locations for five cruise vessels with two more due in April.
'These vessels are our regular customers and we are supporting them while their ships are not operational.'
You must log in or register to see images
Two other cruise ships the Viking Star and British owned Astoria are also in Tilbury. A fifth ship Magellan (pictured) is berthed just outside the busy docks
The Spirit of Discovery and Saga Sapphire usually sail from Southampton but with no space available were directed to Tilbury.
A tugboat operator at Tilbury said in his 40 years of working he had never seen so many cruise ships berthed at the same time.
'We heard that they will be used as floating hospitals if they are needed. It does make sense as anyone who has the virus can be isolated in their cabin,' said a port worker.
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'The only people on the ships are the crew. It is usual as they are berthed where cargo ships normally tie up. Tilbury is a very busy port so to have them here for so long shows how bad the situation is.'
The £346m Spirit of Discovery is Britain's newest cruise liner having been launched last year and christened by the Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall before its maiden voyage.
It can cater for up to 999 guests and has a crew of more than 400.
Until it schedule was cancelled the liner was due to undertake cruises to the Norwegian fjords, Arctic and New England.
You must log in or register to see images
+7
Mail Online understands the Saga Group have written to the Government to offer their cruise ships currently berthed at Tilbury Docks (pictured is the Spirit of Discovery)
You must log in or register to see images
+7
The Saga Sapphire usually sails from Southampton but with no space available it was directed to Tilbury alongside the Spirit of Discovery
You must log in or register to see images
+7
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays
The Saga Sapphire, which was built in 1981, has 1152 berths. The Saga Group primarily focuses on the over-50s age group, offering insurance and holidays.
It has over 2.7m customers and operates the two cruise ships now in London.
A spokesman for Saga declined to comment.
The Port of Tilbury said: 'The Port of Tilbury is helping a number of our valued cruise line customers at a very difficult time for the industry.
'We are currently providing safe and suitable river and inner berth locations for five cruise vessels with two more due in April.
'These vessels are our regular customers and we are supporting them while their ships are not operational.'
I’m expecting a spike in calls for MH issues and suicide attempts. It’s been a crisis for many years and these people haven’t suddenly gone away. Social distancing will hit them and the elderly the most.
Just seen news of 5 ambulances damaged in Kent by someone drilling holes into their tyres while parked up at base.
Also stories emerging of NHS staff being mugged at knifepoint for their pass.......this world is full of ****s
Also stories emerging of NHS staff being mugged at knifepoint for their pass.......this world is full of ****s
Just looking through pictures on bbc site with massive crowds at coastal area’s & parks etc & not separating, what’s a matter with these people ****ing morons & don’t give a **** about anyone except themselves, Boris is right & hope he ups more tough measures & probably the only way to stop it spreading
What ****s these idiots are, really feel for the NHS staff at present
What the actual ****? We really are a ****ed up nation
As Stainsey will tell you, no true anarchist would do something like this. The word has been hijacked.
Worse still, a 7 year old girl randomly stabbed to death in a Bolton park by a 30 year old woman with 'mental health issues'. Horrific...
https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/22/girl-seven-stabbed-death-park-12440003/?ito=twitter
https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/22/girl-seven-stabbed-death-park-12440003/?ito=twitter
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Check out these morons - it's like a scene out of a zombie movie. Social distance my arse....
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I despair I really do.
I saw better behaviour when I was out today, as did you and Woody, and then you see this and the **** I saw on the news.
I am beginning to seriously worry about us.
I also read earlier today that on my Mums day of birth, 3 September 1939, the day war was declared, the shops were stripped clean of everything, and this behaviour continued until rationing was brought in, a couple of weeks later. So it’s not a new thing. We clearly need to be told to do stuff with threats of punishment. Jesus wept.
I’m not a great lover of religion but big up to the Sikh charity ‘Nishkam Swat’ who dropped loads of food for the staff at one of the hospitals I was dropping off at today.
Lovely people who’s act of kindness was heartwarming.
Lovely people who’s act of kindness was heartwarming.
As you pointed out to me the other day, the Sikhs are good at this stuff. I saw a Sikh run operation providing food to the homeless on the Strand when I was in town before Christmas. Shame about the religious stuff.