Busan Port, Two International Cruise Ships Cancel Arrival

BPA Establishes Dedicated Passage for Passengers at High Risk of Infection

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Yoseop] Busan Port Authority (President Nam Ki-chan) announced that the entry of international cruise ships scheduled to call at Busan Port is being canceled one after another.

The two cruise ships scheduled to arrive on the 11th and 12th have already canceled their entry. Following China, the government has also stopped cruise calls via Taiwan, making it likely that international cruise ships carrying large numbers of passengers will effectively cease calling at Busan Port.

However, cruise ships entering for the purpose of bunkering and loading ship supplies are expected to enter twice in February without passengers. These vessels have no record of passing through China within 14 days, undergo thorough pre-quarantine, and crew disembarkation is also restricted.

Busan Port quarantine authorities decided that if any passenger or crew member on a ship departing from or passing through the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) outbreak area within 14 days shows symptoms such as fever, the control target will be expanded to all onboard passengers and crew.

The cruise ship quarantine inspection process proceeds in three stages. Before entry, a preliminary review is conducted with quarantine certificates from the previous port of departure, health status certificates of all passengers, and medical opinions from doctors onboard the cruise ship. Upon arrival, quarantine officers board the ship to conduct thorough testing of suspected passengers. Finally, at the terminal, entry of symptomatic individuals will be strictly controlled using thermal cameras.

Additionally, to prepare for any emergency, measures such as mandatory mobile phone roaming and related device installation are enforced to track passengers' local tourism routes.

Kan Ju-tae, Head of the Port Industry Department at Busan Port Authority, said, "Cruise ships are assigned to the International Passenger Terminal 2, dedicated to cruises, and operated separately from Terminal 1, where Korea-Japan regular passenger ships dock. We have established exclusive pathways for passengers with high infection risk, such as those passing through China, and are increasing the frequency of disinfection and regular quarantine."