Gibraltar may refuse to let stricken cruise ship dock

Port authorities in Gibraltar gave no guarantee yesterday that the P&O cruise ship Aurora, with hundreds of sick British holidaymakers on board, would be allowed to dock when it arrives in the British colony tomorrow on its next scheduled port of call.

Gibraltar port doctors have been alerted to conditions on board, as maritime rules demand in cases of infection or death. But no decision on whether the ship may dock in Gibraltar can be taken until the ship arrives off the Rock and port doctors board the Aurora and inspect conditions at first hand.

"If it's contagious, we say no," Gibraltar port's duty officer, who declined to be named, told The Independent on Sunday yesterday. "International maritime regulations are quite clear on the matter: the ship stays in quarantine until it is cleared of infection."

This is the first time Gibraltar has faced the prospect of determining the fate of an infected passenger ship, the officer said. Previously infections had been reported only on mercantile cargo ships. Rules dictate that such ships must anchor offshore and await a decision from the port captain on the advice of port doctors.

The Gibraltar government's spokesman, Francis Cantos, said the priority was to protect public health on the Rock, and that public health authorities would decide today on whether passengers would be allowed to disembark when the ship arrived. "Our health authorities are in contact with the vessel, and we understand that all but 30 passengers are now recovering," Mr Cantos said.

Gibraltar's tourism minister, Joe Hollyday, said in a statement: "If there is a significant risk to public health that would be our first responsibility. However, we hope to be able to welcome Aurora's healthy passengers in Gibraltar." Mr Cantos declined to clarify whether this meant infected passengers would be confined to the ship.