Queenscliff: McMeniman family stranded on ship banned from docking in South American ports
It was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime but the McMeniman family is now in coronavirus limbo, stranded on a ship off Argentina with 150 other Aussies.
Manly
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A northern beaches family has been left stranded on a cruise ship caught up in the worldwide coronavirus crisis — along with about 150 other Australians — off the coast of South America.
Australian diplomats are pleading with authorities in Argentina and Uruguay to drop a disembarkation ban and let the Ocean Atlantic dock at one of their ports.
Bill and Debbie McMeniman, and their adult son Jono, 36, who has an intellectual disability, had been enjoying a three-week “trip of a lifetime” Antarctic adventure cruise organised by an Australia charter company, Chimu Adventures.
But when the vessel, and its 200 passengers, tried to return to Argentina, it was denied entry to the southern port of Ushuaia, even though there was no sign of a COVID-19 outbreak on board.
The McMeniman’s other son, Chris, who also lives on the northern beaches, said prior to heading to Argentinian, the ship was turned away from the British-held Falkland Islands.
“It tried to dock in Ushuaia, with no luck and then sailed towards Buenos Aires on March 16, but it appears that the local authorities in Argentina will presently not let the Ocean Atlantic into port or for passengers to disembark.
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“A charter flight had been arranged by Chimu, and paid for by the Australian passengers, to take the Australian’s home after they missed their scheduled commercial flight.
“Now we’ve been told the charter flight is delayed until at least March 26 or 27, if they can get into a port.”
Mr McMeniman said his family must take a chartered flight home because there are no longer any commercial flight options for Australians.
The Ocean Atlantic is now trying to get permission to dock in Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital of Buenos Aires.
Mr McMeniman said his father a retired cardiac anaesthetist and intensivist and his mother, a retired nurse, and his brother are well, but the ship is running low on food and fuel.
“A neighbouring ship with no passengers has thankfully provided them with some provisions. “We do not know how long those provisions will last. The passengers are also running out of their personal medical supplies, such as insulin.”
With the help of independent MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall, the family has been in touch with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Mr McMeniman said DFAT told Ms Steggall’s office that the Australian on the Ocean Atlantic were its top priority.
“They are in contact with Ocean Atlantic management and with governments and assure that medicines and food will continue to be provided,” he said.
“My sister and I have been in contact with other families of passengers who, like us, have grave concerns about how and when the 150 Australians on board will get home.
“We, along with the passengers of Ocean Atlantic, are greatly distressed that the efforts to get them home have not yet been successful.
“Further and urgent intervention by government and diplomatic members is required.”
In a statement released at 2.30pm today, Chimu Adventures said the ship had been re-routed due to new port restrictions in Puerto Madryn where it was supposed to disembark on March 21.
“The Ocean Atlantic is one of many vessels in the same situation,” the statement said.
“At the time of writing the Ocean Atlantic is positioned in the River Plate near Buenos Aires.
“Australians and New Zealanders do not have commercial flight options and we’re still working on a possible repatriation flight for them later this week from either Buenos Aires or Montevideo.
“We are working on this jointly with DFAT, Albatros Expeditions, the ship owners . . . and port authorities, as well as the Australian embassy in Buenos Aires and now airport authorities.”