Update On Cruise Ships For New Orleans

[chessbriar]

Accommodation Ships Arrive in New Orleans

September 12: Carnival Cruise Line's ECSTASY tied up at the Riverwalk in New Orleans today while police officers and their families took up new temporary quarters on board. It was reported that 70% of the remaining police force are homeless at present. Carnival's SENSATION also docked today. She is further east along the New Orleans wharf and will be home for firefighters and emergency medical services personnel, starting tomorrow. The two 2,600 passenger cruise ships join the USS IWO JIMA, a U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship that arrived in New Orleans on September 5 to support rescue helicopter missions into the city. The 1991-built ECSTASY and 1993-built SENSATION were chartered by the US Government for six months to provide shelter to evacuees following Hurricane Katrina. Both were moored at Galveston, Texas, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency dropped the plan after displaced residents did not want to move again or risk not finding relatives, jobs or schools. Others cited a fear of being near water.

Greece Offers Cruise Ship For New Orleans Aid

September 10: The Greek government has chartered the cruise ship OCEAN MONARCH (ex PORT SYDNEY, AKROTIRI EXPRESS, DAPHNE, SWITZERLAND, OCEAN ODYSSEY) from Majestic International Cruises to help survivors of Hurricane Katrina. A second ship has been offered, but both will be subject to US Coast Guard approval. The 1955-built OCEAN MONARCH can accommodate over 500 passengers. The minimal charter rate will reportedly cover only the operating costs of the vessel. The ship finishes its current cruise on September 25, after which it will head for New Orleans. This same vessel was offered by Greece and stationed in Sri Lanka for relief efforts for Tsunami survivors in February this year.

 

Both articles came from http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html

 

I only posted as there does seem to be some interest as to how the ship will be used.

[CruisingChick]

The 1991-built ECSTASY and 1993-built SENSATION were chartered by the US Government for six months to provide shelter to evacuees following Hurricane Katrina.

 

SIX MONTHS? Wow, that's a long time.

 

Thanks for the post.

 

Anne Maria

[mii]

Thanks for the post. Interesting reading.

 

marilyn