The super typhoon is predicted to be the strongest in the region in decades.
The storm is expected to sustain winds of over 200 km/h and to be more powerful than the Super Typhoon Hato last year, which got the highest level warning signal and recorded wind speeds of up to 185 km/h.
Genting extends two-nighter and cancels one-night cruises
Genting Cruise Lines issued notices to World Dream guests. ‘Due to Super Typhoon Mangkhut, World Dream’s two-night cruise departing on September 14 will be changed to a three-night cruise due to the anticipated closure of the port of Hong Kong on Sunday.’
A revised schedule shows departure today from Guangzhou and arrival at Hong Kong on Monday.
Genting’s Star Pisces homeports at Hong Kong’s Ocean Terminal and operates one-night cruises.
A Star Cruises notice informed guests that its one-night cruises departing on September 14, 15 and 16 are cancelled for safety reasons.
Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo is unaffected as it is currently in the northern China homeport of Dalian. Nor are SuperStar Aquarius. which homeports in Taiwan, or SuperStar Gemini, based in Xiamen, China, affected.
NCLH ships are steering clear
All Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ships, including Norwegian Joy, are reported well clear and unaffected by Mangkhut.
The Hong Kong Observatory, a government department responsible for monitoring and forecasting weather, has warned ‘Super Typhoon Mangkhut will move towards the vicinity of Luzon and enter the South China Sea in the next couple of days. Its outer subsiding air will bring generally fine and very hot weather to Guangdong. Mangkhut will edge closer to the coast of Guangdong on Sunday. The associated heavy rain, squalls and storm surge will pose threat to the region.’
It forecasts that on Sunday and Monday Hong Kong will experience thunderstorms with seas being rough to very rough with swells.
Princess skipping Miyakojima
Princess Cruises reports that Sun Princess, which is at Naze, in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, is skipping Miyakojima, Japan.
‘Due to forecasted adverse weather conditions as a result of Typhoon Mangkhut, Sun Princess has been forced to cancel the call on September 15. After departure from Okinawa, Japan, the ship will proceed straight to Keelung, Taiwan and is anticipated to arrive at 17:00 on September 15 instead of 07:00 on September 16.’
MSC Splendida not affected
MSC’s only vessel in North Asia, MSC Splendida, is sailing out of Shanghai to Japan. ‘Based on the most updated forecast this morning, her itinerary will not be affected,’ a MSC spokesperson informed Seatrade today.
The path of the powerful typhoon remains uncertain, but is forecast to make landfall in Philippine’s Cagayan province on Saturday morning (Sept. 15), and may weaken after leaving the Philippines in the direction of Hong Kong .
As evacuations continue in northern Philippines, residents in Hong Kong are reported to be taking measures to safeguard property, and stocking up on food and supplies.
It is yet to be ascertained if the super typhoon will make landfall within 100 km of Hong Kong or even 500 km of it.
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