18 Mar 2020

Norwegian Jewel departs American Samoa after refuelling

11:04 am on 18 March 2020

A cruise ship carrying 2,000 passengers and a crew of more than 1,000, has been refuelled in American Samoa and it is now heading to Hawaii.

The Norwegian Jewel

The Norwegian Jewel Photo: RNZ Pacific / Fili Sagapolutele

Coast Guard Lieutenant Ryan Junod said fuel was all that the Norwegian Jewel took on while in American Samoa.

There had been concerns the vessel was carrying people infected with coronavirus but the Coast Guard had assured the public that that was not the case.

The ship had been stopped from calling at several Pacific ports before being permitted to refuel in Pago Pago .

Lieutenant Ryan Junod said police stood guard the whole time the cruise ship was docked to make sure none of the passengers left the vessel