CMV Bring Passengers Home In Unique Transfer Operation

Cruise & Maritime Voyages completed a challenging rendezvous 12 nautical miles off the coast of Phuket, when Columbus and Vasco da Gama met to undertake a challenging passenger transfer and repatriation process.

Involving 239 passengers, the ship to ship exchange by tender followed an announcement that cruise operations would be suspended and all CMV ships returned to their home ports. With the Port of Phuket closed to cruise ships, along with all other ports in Southeast Asia and the wider Indian sub-continent, air repatriation wasn’t an option. However, permission had been granted by the local Port Authorities to take on provisions off the coast of Phuket before the ship began their onward voyages. 

So began a unique repatriation operation presenting a massive logistical challenge for officers and crew, involving the transfer of more than 500 pieces of luggage and 238 passengers over the course of almost six hours, and all undertaken by tender. 

Christian Verhounig, Chief Executive at Cruise & Maritime Voyages said, “We are tremendously proud of our onboard and shoreside teams for their fantastic job in delivering this safe and effective evacuation and relief operation. On behalf of the directors, staff and especially our hard-working crew CMV would like to thank all our current passengers for their support, patience and understanding during this repatriation operation.”

AddThis Website Tools
Emma

Recent Posts

Your June 2025 Update from Michael Wilson

As I write this, I’m in the middle of what’s become a much-loved tradition: our…

3 days ago

Jane McDonald to Star in New Cruising TV Series

Jane McDonald is set to star in a new Channel 5 TV series, due to…

7 days ago

Aurora 2025 Refit: A Closer Look

P&O Cruises’ adult-only ship is back in action after the Aurora 2025 refit.

2 weeks ago

Celebrity Cruises Unveils $250 Million Modernisation of Solstice Series Ships

Celebrity Cruises is set to breathe new life into its iconic Solstice Series ships.

2 weeks ago

TUI River Cruises launches new 2026 Serbian and Croatian Danube itineraries

TUI River Cruises has announced an exciting new programme of winter sailings for 2026.

3 weeks ago

MSC Virtuosa Features in Channel 5’s Cruising with Susan Calman

MSC Virtuosa will feature in the latest Channel 5 series, Cruising with Susan Calman

4 weeks ago