cruise ships stuck off Fremantle

[NSWP]

2 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Considerable amounts for sure.

Germany is now one of the richest nations in the world, they lost the war but were well funded by the three major powers,  UK, USA, Russia  to rebuild post war.

[MicCanberra]

Amazing how both Germany and Japan had become strong financially after the war.

[dizzy1948]

7 hours ago, nnps said:

I am a bit confused. It occurs to me that this sort of treatment and the costs involved was always one of the big arguments for travel insurance (I know that whether one would be covered for this disease is problematic). I accept that we are beholden to provide care, but I also feel that we should not be liable for the costs.

Here's another update from Scott Morrison at 12.39pm today WST

Coronavirus crisis: Prime Minister Scott Morrison defends decision to allow Artania passengers into Perth hospitals

The Prime Minister has defended the move to allow passengers on board the Artania into Perth to be treated in private hospitals as following the “moral rules” observed by the whole international community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision to allow the Artania to dock and have WA’s private hospitals treat the patients on board was met with outrage from the medical community yesterday.

Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said doctors and nurses at Hollywood and Bethesda hospitals were “in shock” after it was announced.

However, Scott Morrison said the urgent move was necessary to immediately treat the infected passengers, in the hope Australians would be afforded the same care if they were in such a situation overseas.

“I can say with great moral authority that Australian is doing the right thing,” he said.

“There are some, if you like, moral rules here, about how if there are people who need our healthcare in Australia, through no fault of their own, then of course we would extend that to them.

“Yesterday I had numerous discussions, and the day before, with the Western Australian premier and the health minister had numerous discussions with his counterpart to put in place a very sensible facility program for those who are going off the ship at home, for those who will require hospitalisation treatment.”

 

Edited March 29, 2020 by dizzy1948

[dizzy1948]

 

ARTANIA PASSENGER HEADING HOME

The West Australian understands a convoy of buses tasked with transporting the 1300 mostly German nationals aboard the Artania to Perth Airport will arrive at Fremantle Passenger Terminal from 2pm today.

The healthy passengers are due to fly out of WA onboard four Condor rescue flights, which arrived from Frankfurt, Germany yesterday afternoon.

Banners are hung from the cruise ship MV Artania in Fremantle harbour in Fremantle

The healthy passengers are due to fly out of WA onboard four Condor rescue flights, which arrived from Frankfurt, Germany yesterday afternoon.

The mercy flights will depart Perth depart at 5.20pm, 6.20pm, 7.20pm and 8.20pm as flight numbers DE8593, DE8461, DE8471 and DE8575.

 

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for the updates.

[dizzy1948]

9 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Thanks for the updates.

Hope I'm not being OTT - but it's just keep you all up to date with our little corner of the world (and if the press are to be believed!!!!!!!!!) hopefully, take the guess work out of the situation, and show the appreciation of the ships crew with the pic.

Edited March 29, 2020 by dizzy1948

[The_Big_M]

Nice to hear.

[MicCanberra]

7 minutes ago, dizzy1948 said:

Hope I'm not being OTT - but it's just keep you all up to date with our little corner of the world (and if the press are to be believed!!!!!!!!!) hopefully, take the guess work out of the situation, and show the appreciation of the ships crew with the pic.

No, it is fine.

[boeckli]

Copy of my post from the Magnifica thread:

I just listened to a radio interview with a German travel journalist who is on board the MSC Magnifica off Fremantle (I believe it was recorded on Friday).

Apparently the plan is for supplies etc they have ordered in Fremantle to be transported to them at the anchorage and then they will head to Europe via the Suez canal (where the plan is for Magnifica to take the place of one of the MSC cargo ships for the transit).

He thinks they will probably also bunker at Suez. Where in Europe they can land is at this stage seemingly unclear and probably will depend on the situation at the time. He expects it will take 15-16 days to get there.

 

Just checked MarineTraffic and she has now departed from her WA anchorage

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for the update, seems an uncertain plan.

[SeaDog-46]

MSC Magnifica - her AIS is saying Colombo - assume for bunkers.

There maybe a problem with bunker availability due to the new rules that came in on 1st January 2020.

Requires use of more expensive low sulphur fuel or the old HSFO if ship is fitted with scrubbers.

If Magnifica can get to Fujairah on UAE Gulf of Oman coast there are tonnes of bunkers available at this 2nd biggest bunker port in the world.

[MMDown Under]

On 3/29/2020 at 4:18 PM, dizzy1948 said:

Here's another update from Scott Morrison at 12.39pm today WST

Coronavirus crisis: Prime Minister Scott Morrison defends decision to allow Artania passengers into Perth hospitals

The Prime Minister has defended the move to allow passengers on board the Artania into Perth to be treated in private hospitals as following the “moral rules” observed by the whole international community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision to allow the Artania to dock and have WA’s private hospitals treat the patients on board was met with outrage from the medical community yesterday.

Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said doctors and nurses at Hollywood and Bethesda hospitals were “in shock” after it was announced.

However, Scott Morrison said the urgent move was necessary to immediately treat the infected passengers, in the hope Australians would be afforded the same care if they were in such a situation overseas.

“I can say with great moral authority that Australian is doing the right thing,” he said.

“There are some, if you like, moral rules here, about how if there are people who need our healthcare in Australia, through no fault of their own, then of course we would extend that to them.

“Yesterday I had numerous discussions, and the day before, with the Western Australian premier and the health minister had numerous discussions with his counterpart to put in place a very sensible facility program for those who are going off the ship at home, for those who will require hospitalisation treatment.”

 

Why private hospitals in Perth?  Most Aussies can't afford to go to private hospitals, even if they have health insurance, because of the gap in costs.  (My daughter's friend had both her children in public hospitals, despite having health insurance, because it would have been too expensive to have her children in the private hospital)  I assume Germany will be reimbursing Aust the medical costs involved, if there is no reciprocal health arrangement in place.

As for our PM having "moral authority", I won't go there! 

Edited March 30, 2020 by MMDown Under

[MMDown Under]

On 3/29/2020 at 2:36 PM, MicCanberra said:

Amazing how both Germany and Japan had become strong financially after the war.

Neither had huge military expenditure (neither has NZ).

Just imagine if Aus had nil military expenditure, how strong financially it would be.  Not that that would be a wise decision with China flexing its muscles and moving in to the South Pacific. 

[MMDown Under]

Just read that the passengers from the Eastern States are spending their 14 days isolation in hotels, whilst the WA passengers are at Rottnest Island in apartments.  Wasn't there enough room for all passengers on the island?  Seems a lost opportunity for word of mouth publicity re Rottnest Island.  I'm sure one of the passengers from the East would have happily posed with a quokka like Federer.  Rottnest Island was always on my wish list for my next visit to WA, but now I don't know.  

[MicCanberra]

The passengers on Rottnest may find themselves between a quokka and a hard place.😊

[MMDown Under]

2 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

The passengers on Rottnest may find themselves between a quokka and a hard place.😊

ha  ha

[Pushka]

5 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Why private hospitals in Perth?  Most Aussies can't afford to go to private hospitals, even if they have health insurance, because of the gap in costs.  (My daughter's friend had both her children in public hospitals, despite having health insurance, because it would have been too expensive to have her children in the private hospital)  I assume Germany will be reimbursing Aust the medical costs involved, if there is no reciprocal health arrangement in place.

As for our PM having "moral authority", I won't go there! 

With the cancellation of elective surgery, the private hospitals are emptying. They want to leave the public hospitals for specialist Covid cases. I'm betting they won't be getting the full private hospital treatment and some of the public hospitals are better anyway. 
 

As far as Rottnest Island goes, do you realise over 1000 passengers a day are continuing to fly into the Eastern States and need Hotel rooms for quarantine? A logistical impossibility to get them to Perth and crazy to do so. 

Edited March 30, 2020 by Pushka

[MMDown Under]

21 minutes ago, Pushka said:

With the cancellation of elective surgery, the private hospitals are emptying. They want to leave the public hospitals for specialist Covid cases. I'm betting they won't be getting the full private hospital treatment and some of the public hospitals are better anyway. 
 

As far as Rottnest Island goes, do you realise over 1000 passengers a day are continuing to fly into the Eastern States and need Hotel rooms for quarantine? A logistical impossibility to get them to Perth and crazy to do so. 

I agree that would be stupid indeed.  I meant the Aust passengers (from the East), who are being accommodated in Perth hotels vs WA passengers who are being accommodated in units on Rottnest Island - all from the same ship.    

 

Good point - I hadn't thought the private hospitals might be charging the Govt a lesser rate.  That would be a win win for both.  I believe the public hospitals are better and use them by choice.  (Queensland public hospitals used to be funded by the Casket and chocolate wheels before the Federal Govt got involved in hospitals.  Then those funds went to Sport.)

Edited March 30, 2020 by MMDown Under

[SeaDog-46]

Vasco Da Gama has departed Fremantle for Cape Town - eta 13th April.

That just leaves Artania alongside & The World at Gage Roads anchorage.

[MicCanberra]

I suppose they are waiting for further instructions as to where they can go.

[dizzy1948]

6 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Why private hospitals in Perth?  Most Aussies can't afford to go to private hospitals, even if they have health insurance, because of the gap in costs.  (My daughter's friend had both her children in public hospitals, despite having health insurance, because it would have been too expensive to have her children in the private hospital)  I assume Germany will be reimbursing Aust the medical costs involved, if there is no reciprocal health arrangement in place.

As for our PM having "moral authority", I won't go there! 

Mark McGowan quote yesterday.

Following a row with doctors and nurses, the Federal and State Governments reached an agreement for the Artania cruise ship patients to be treated at the 145-bed private facility co-located at Joondalup Health Campus.

Private hospital nurses had threatened industrial action after Hollywood and Bethesda hospitals were called upon to treat the COVID-19 patients, with the Australian Nursing Federation saying they lacked training, equipment and confidence.

About 200 WA travellers onboard the Vasco da Gama are being ferried to Rottnest Island for a fortnight in quarantine.

A further 600 Australians will be quarantined at the Duxton Hotel in Perth’s CBD for two weeks before flying home.

[Pushka]

12 minutes ago, SeaDog-46 said:

Vasco Da Gama has departed Fremantle for Cape Town - eta 13th April.

That just leaves Artania alongside & The World at Gage Roads anchorage.

The World is still in Aus waters? It was here a couple of weeks ago in Adelaide. Are there passengers onboard do you know?

[SeaDog-46]

I think all passengers left The World some time ago.

[MMDown Under]

8 minutes ago, dizzy1948 said:

Mark McGowan quote yesterday.

Following a row with doctors and nurses, the Federal and State Governments reached an agreement for the Artania cruise ship patients to be treated at the 145-bed private facility co-located at Joondalup Health Campus.

Private hospital nurses had threatened industrial action after Hollywood and Bethesda hospitals were called upon to treat the COVID-19 patients, with the Australian Nursing Federation saying they lacked training, equipment and confidence.

About 200 WA travellers onboard the Vasco da Gama are being ferried to Rottnest Island for a fortnight in quarantine.

A further 600 Australians will be quarantined at the Duxton Hotel in Perth’s CBD for two weeks before flying home.

Thanks for that.  Whilst I'm sure Duxton Hotel will pass muster, I'd rather be on Rottnest Island.  

[dizzy1948]

4 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Thanks for that.  Whilst I'm sure Duxton Hotel will pass muster, I'd rather be on Rottnest Island.  

Bit mean really - Eastern Staters have to go to the Duxton - Sandgropers get Rotto.