Court to decide MS Caledonian Sky cruise ship’s fight to stay in Darwin next week

THE battle by the boutique cruise ship MS Caledonian Sky to remain in Darwin will be decided in the Federal Court next week

The MS Caledonian Sky cruise ship moored in Darwin Harbour ... the battle by the luxury boutique cruise ship to remain in Darwin is expected to be decided in the Federal Court next Thursday. Picture: Che Chorley

• Gunner backs push to boot foreign cruise ship from Darwin Harbour

THE battle by the luxury boutique cruise ship MS Caledonian Sky to remain in Darwin is expected to be decided in the Federal Court next Thursday.

The Caledonian Sky is one of the best known expedition-type cruise ships and is anchored off Darwin while it fights in the courts to stay.

The boat was originally anchored off Stokes Hill wharf, but has now moved to new anchorage outside Darwin Harbour.

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On Friday, the ship was visible several kilometres off the coast from East Point.

The vessel does Kimberley and west coast and Top End adventure cruises that take in scores of destinations between Arnhem Land, Darwin, Broome, and Geraldton, which is one of the arguments for wanting to stay in the Top End.

It has spent the summer of 2019 and early 2020 along Australia’s east coast cruising from Cairns and then on to Australia’s southern coastline, visiting most Australian states.

It then spent December, January and February port hopping around New Zealand’s North and South islands.

The Caledonian Sky arrived in Darwin on April 8 after making its way from New Zealand and is believed to be holding fewer than 114 passengers and crew.

No cases of the coronavirus have been recorded on board throughout its long summer cruise season.

The MS Caledonian Sky cruise ship was visible in Darwin Harbour several kilometres off the coast from East Point on Friday Picture: Che Chorley

The Caledonian Sky has a May to September expedition cruise season scheduled for the Top End and west coast, which is another reason it would not want to be forced out of Australia, with the ever-changing coronavirus environment.

The average cost per person for a nine-night Kimberley cruise on the Caledonian Sky starts at about $12,000 per person, for twin share.

The boat is not unlike the Cairns-based Coral Expeditions’ cruise ships, which operate out of Darwin, in what they offer to passengers into the remote Kimberley coastal region.

The Australian Border Force is holding off forcibly moving the Caledonian Sky until 5pm on Thursday as it awaits the court’s decision.

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The Caledonian Sky can take a maximum of 110 passengers in its 57 spacious suites.

Tour company APT challenged the Northern Territory’s refusal for permission to dock and claimed federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s order for all cruise ships to leave Australian waters as soon as was practical was not valid.

Authorities are concerned about setting a precedent for other ships if the Caledonian Sky is allowed to dock,

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the Government “had given very clear direction around cruise ships – that we don’t want them”.

“There may be Australians on that ship and we may take those Australians,” he said.

“Obviously it depends on what the court result is.”

Mr Gunner said it was important that the Government “held our line for as long as we can”.

“Hopefully the courts abide by us about who we take into the country and how we handle them and what pressure we put on our health system,” he said.

“There may be no pressure from this ship, but I just want to make sure we keep a very strong, principled position here.”