A Cormorant helicopter was dispatched from Comox on Vancouver Island around noon on Saturday to transport a sick cruise-ship passenger to hospital.
Lt. Michelle Scott, from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre Victoria, said 442 Rescue Squadron was notified that a single person onboard the Majestic Princess cruise ship sailing from Alaska to Washington state was in medical distress and needed hospitalization immediately.
Scott said the person was taken to Victoria General Hospital for treatment. She did not know what the person’s medical condition was.
Cruise ships are currently banned from stopping in Canadian ports due to COVID-19 fears. However, the U.S. government has temporarily overturned an old maritime law (U.S. Passenger Vessel Services Act) dictating that any large ship not built in the U.S. cannot travel from Seattle to Alaska without a stopover in B.C.
The U.S. government’s decision to overturn the law enabled the Alaska cruise business to start back up last month. There have been no cruise ship stops in Victoria, Vancouver or Prince Rupert since 2020.
The Canadian government will lift its ban on cruise ships in Canadian ports as of Nov. 1 — following the 2021 Alaska cruise ship season.
The Majestic Princess was in Seattle on Aug. 8, and is scheduled to return to Alaska, stopping at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
The Port of Vancouver estimates the cruise industry brings in over $2 billion in spending, while the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority estimates cruise ships bring $130 million a year into Victoria’s economy and accounts for 800 jobs.
