Sydney Ports Corporation (Sydney Ports) has agreed to a request from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) to allow one of its cruise ships to remain in Sydney as a major tropical storm develops in the Coral Sea.
The 90,000 tonne Radiance of the Seas was due to sail from Sydney at 6:30pm on 30 December, 2012 with around 2,500 passengers including close to 800 children.
However, citing safety concerns for the ship, her passengers and crew with severe tropical cyclone warnings in force for the Coral Sea, Radiance of the Sea’s captain asked to delay her departure from Sydney.
The ship remained overnight at the Overseas Passenger Terminal awaiting a move on Monday 31 December, 2012 to the mooring buoy off Point Piper in the Eastern Suburbs.
Sydney Ports duty harbour master, Richard Lorraine , said that with all the New Year’s Eve activity on Sydney Harbour and another cruise ship due at the OPT early on New Year’s Day, Point Piper was the most appropriate location for the ship to wait.
“With Royal Caribbean putting the safety of its ship, passengers and crew first, Sydney Ports has agreed to do the same by allowing the Radiance of the Seas to remain in port until the cyclone situation in the Coral Sea becomes clearer,” Mr Lorraine said.
“All normal safety and security precautions are in place for her move from the OPT to mooring at the Point Piper buoy.”
More information on the ship and her movements should be obtained from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
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Sydney Ports, December 31, 2012