By José Reyes Burgos & Sofia Zaragoza.
Puerto Vallarta.
A total of 1200 crew members onboard the MS Koningsdam, a cruise from Holland America Line today anchored in Puerto Vallarta, have extended a letter in which they ask for help to the Mexican government and the city, to be able to disembark and be repatriated back to their homes.
It is about people that were transferred to this ship from 8 different cruise ships in recent operations in high seas, many meet more than 2 months without touching earth and want to see their families again. After the cruise was permitted to disembark 20 Mexicans, a confirmed fact by the crew itself in exclusive for Vallarta Opina. The same occupants of the Koningsdam extended a letter to this drafting, asking the Mexican government to let them disembark to make a humanitarian bridge.
“We have been self isolated for months now, complying with all the requirements to our disembarkation (…) I, personally, don’t understand what harm can we cause to the country considering we don’t have a single case of covid-19 in our ship. After all, we are just human beings trying to get home to our families and loved ones”, said Joana Abreu Ferreira, author of the text that was delivered to Vallarta Opina under the title of the crew
According to the document, right now the command bridge of the ship and the shipping company carry out negotiations with the Mexican government and the port authorities, who will have the last word to decide the fate of these men and women onboard the Koningsdam.
The letter is reproduced in full:
My name is Joana Abreu Ferreira, I am from Portugal and together with around 1200 fellow crew members from 8 different ships we are still stuck onboard the MS Koningsdam in the bay of Puerto Vallarta. We heard from our captain that negotiations are being made with the Mexican government in order to get us clearance to disembark and make our repatriation to our countries. We have been self isolated for months now, complying with all the requirements to our disembarkation, such as the wear of facial mask, social distancing, individual room, separated meal times with half an hour for each, temperature check twice per day, etc. Our company is been doing everything in their power to keep us safe and healthy, and to send us back home to our families. This morning we were able to disembark 20 Mexican crew members before we came back to anchor. The rest of us stays here onboard waiting for a decision from the government. I, personally, don’t understand what arm can we cause to the country considering we don’t have a single case of covid-19 in our ship. After all we are just human beings trying to get home to our families and loved ones. If you can hear, please help us
