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Vasco da Gama on standby for Kangaroo Island bushfire evacuation

Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Vasco da Gama, currently on a four-night round cruise which left Adelaide January 2, cancelled its call at Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island Saturday due to the catastrophic bushfires burning there.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

January 4, 2020

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

MD Australia Dean Brazier said the company’s operations team liaised with the local port agent, South Australian Tourism Commission and the Country Fire Service Friday night.

‘The escalating, uncontrolled bushfires burning on Kangaroo Island means our scheduled call at Penneshaw has understandably been cancelled,’ Brazier said.

Evacuation assistance offered

‘We have, however, offered to provide evacuation assistance if required for the locals and tourists who remain on the island. As a result, the ship has proceeded to Penneshaw and is anchored a safe distance from the coast to be on standby to assist with a possible evacuation plan to the mainland.

‘Should conditions improve and our services are not required, Vasco da Gama will continue her voyage to arrive in Port Lincoln on Sunday as scheduled.’

Brazier said the captain made an announcement about the situation to the passengers on Saturday morning.

‘We imagine our guests will be in support of assisting the bushfire effort,’ he said. ‘We would like to thank them for their patience and understanding during this unprecedented time.’

Smoke crosses the Tasman

Debbie Summers, chairman of the New Zealand Cruise Association, told Seatrade Cruise News smoke has crossed the Tasman and can be seen from her home in Auckland.

RAN to the rescue

In Australia’s unprecedented and unimaginable bushfire crisis, the Royal Australian Navy has been called in to evacuate people stranded in coastal areas.

Update: See 'Vasco da Gama released from bushfire evacuation standby'

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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