Thursday, September 9, 2021 - 17:20 by ce-press
From September 1 cruiseship passengers, with a valid European Digital Covid-19 certificate, do not have to fill out an electronic 'Covidpass' form when entering Riga seaport.
The amendments in the regulations stipulate that the validity of the Covid-19 certificate presented by its passengers are checked by the cruiseline. Those not having a valid certificate, will be required to complete a standard electronic 'Covidpass' procedure for entering Latvia.
On September 3, Oceania Cruises’ Marina, carrying 400 passengers (mostly from USA), called the Latvian capital. These voyages are operating with the requirement that 100% of passengers and crew are vaccinated. Marina had resumed sailing out of Copenhagen on August 29 after a break of 524 days.
On August 8, Phoenix Reisen’s Artania became the first cruiseship to call Riga after a break of almost a year and a half caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
All 560 passengers on board were fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The ship, which started its journey on July 30 in Bremerhaven, carried passengers from eight countries, mostly from Germany, but also from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
In order to comply with security standards to reduce the risk of Covid-19 virus spread, the Port of Riga, the Freeport of Riga Authority in cooperation with the Latvian State Border Guard, SEMS and SPKC, developed a Management Plan to Mitigate Covid-19 Virus Spreading Risk. All cruiseships calling Riga comply with the plan.
On August 17, Phoenix Reisen’s Amera called Riga for the first time. The chairman of the board of the Freeport of Riga, Viesturs Zeps and ceo, Ansis Zeltins, presented the port’s coat of arms to the ship's second captain, Vitaly Materynsky.
Several more calls are planned this year.
