EMPRESS

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Cruise ship berthed in Chennai after controversial events

The 'Empress', which had departed from the Port of Visakhapatnam on June 9, reached its final destination, the Port of Chennai, on June 11 after a series of controversial events. First, the Puducherry authorities prohibited the ship from entering the port, and then demonstrations in Cuddalore prevented it from docking. The ship was denied entry to Port Puducherry (Tamil Nadu state) and had to stay in the middle of the sea for hours. Alcohol and gambling activities on board were the reasons for the ban. The ship then tried to call at the Port of Cuddalore, near Puducherry, but due to protests from Tamil Nadu political parties, it was also unable to berth. The 'Empress' has scheduled sailings from Visakhapatnam through September 2022. On June 13 it left the port again, headed to Vizag with an ETA as of June 15.

Cruise ship denied entry into Pondicherry

The 'Empress', which had sailed from Vizag on June 8, 2022, was denied entry into the Pondicherry Port by the authorities. The ship was halted midsea on June 10 at 4 a.m. Upon being denied entry, the cruise authorities approached Cuddalore, adjacent to Pondicherry. The political parties of Tamil Nadu have demanded that the ship must not enter Pondicherry. Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry, Tamilasai, strictly instructed the authorities to not allow the ship into the port. As the facilities on the ship include casinos and other gambling activities, which are not allowed in the union territory of Pondicherry, the ship was asked to head back. As per the rules of Pondicherry, the sale of alcohol from other states is prohibited. As the ship also includes alcohol from Andhra Pradesh. the officials of the port have stated it as a reason to deny entry. The ship was awaiting approval from the Cuddalore Port, midsea. The future of the cruise ship, which scheduled tours until September from Vizag, is now at stake.

Cruise ship rescued stranded fishermen

The 'Empress of the Seas' has rescued two Costa Rican fishermen who had been stranded at sea for about three weeks in the night of Dec 13, 2019, between Grand Cayman and Jamaica. The cruise ship was not scheduled to be there but had taken an alternate route because of bad weather. The fishermen had left Porto Limon, Costa Rica, and were adrift since Dec. 1. They had fallen asleep while their nets were soaking and ran out of gas while trying to return. Both received medical attention onboard.