Artania accidents and incidents

March 2020Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(Coronavirus outbreak) On March 27, 2020, the ship docked in Port Fremantle (Perth, Western Australia) with 70+ passengers and crew showing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) symptoms and suspected as potential cases. Currently, Australian health authorities consider the option to quarantine the vessel at the Garden Island's HMAS Stirling navy base or Christmas Island's (Australia) detention centre. Plans also included the ship's healthy passengers and some crew to be flown to Germany via 3 charter flights over March 28-29.

Initially, on Artania were reported 9 confirmed cases. On March 30th were officially reported 41 cases. All infected were disembarked and quarantined at the Western Australia Police Academy Perth City's Joondalup suburb). Initially, Western Australian health authorities planned to hospitalized all the sick tourists at Perth City's Bethesda Hospital (Claremont suburb) and Hollywood Private Hospital (Nedlands suburb), but those hospitals are not equipped to cope with Coronavirus. Then the state's government contracted Joondalup Health Campus (privately-owned, city's largest hospital) that already was treating COVID-19 patients. By March 30, all healthy cruisers were flown back to Germany.

On March 28-29-30, a total of 844 people from the cruise ship (passengers and crew) were flown to Germany via 4 charter flights. Onboard remained 479 staff-crew. On April 1, the vessel was officially ordered to leave Port Fremantle, but it demanded to be quarantined (stay berthed) for 14 days. Onboard remained a total of 450 crew plus 12 passengers. The remaining passengers (some "very unwell") were all elderly people unable to fly back home either due to illness or frailty.

On April 18, 63 people (8 crew + 55 pax) were bused from the city back to the ship. MS Artania departed from Port Fremantle on April 18 (at 1 PM / Perth WA Time) carrying a total of 354 people (346 crew plus 8 passengers). In Perth were left 36 staff-crew (all Europeans, isolated in a CBD hotel for COVID-19 monitoring) plus 25 passengers (already in a CBD hotel). Before the departure, 2 crew were married right on the cruise wharf (near the boarding ramp/gangplank). On April 19, the 59 people (41 crew + 18 pax) were bussed to Perth Airport for the Phoenix Reisen-arranged charter flight to Frankfurt Germany. The Condor Airlines plane was also chartered to transport crew from the fleetmates Amadea, Amera and Albatros.

While the vessel was berthed in Port Fremantle (3+ weeks), a total of 79 passengers and crew tested Coronavirus-positive. On April 16, a 42-year-old male crew died in a Perth hospital, taking Western Australia's death toll to 7. The Filipino man was with Phoenix Reisen since 2006 and served on Artania as a motorman (Engine Room crew). In the previous week were reported 2 deaths (former passengers, both males) related to the cruise ship - a 71-year-old and a 69-year-old. At the time, WA had a total of 541 Coronavirus cases, of which 219 were linked to cruise ships.

From Australia, Artania headed to Indonesia. On April 24, in Port Tanjung Priok (North Jakarta) were disembarked a total of 57 Indonesian staff-crew. They were tested for COVID-19 (at a field hospital) and quarantined for 14 days (in Kemayoran Athletes Village, Jakarta). On the same day was announced that 8 of the tests returned positive, the remaining 49 - negative. From Indonesia, Artania continued to The Philippines (arrived in Manila on April 30) for disembarkation of all non-essential crew (236). Then the ship proceeds to Germany (arrived in Bremerhaven on June 8) carrying just 75 crew (including the Captain) and the 8 passengers.

On May 15, Artania made a technical stop at Port Colombo (Sri Lanka) anchoring offshore for provisioning and refuelling. Suez Canal was transitted on May 27.

The liner was operating a 140-day World Cruise from Hamburg (itinerary December 21, 2019 - May 9, 2021) that was cancelled in March during the global Coronavirus pandemic. Artania was initially carrying a total of 1350 people (850 passengers plus 500 crew). The ship was mastered by Captain Morten Hansen.

Curiously, Phoenix Reisen's Artania became "the world's last cruise ship" still carrying passengers onboard.

May 2010Propulsion / Power Loss

(P&O Artemis) In May 2010, due to engine problems (4th diesel engine) resulting in reduced speed, the ship had to cancel several call ports along a Mediterranean cruise itinerary roundtrip from Southampton UK.

The original 20-night itinerary had scheduled 10 call ports in 6 countries (Barcelona, Cannes, Civitavecchia-Rome, Naples, Piraeus-Athens, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Palma de Majorca, Valencia, Gibraltar. Due to the reduced speed, the itinerary was significantly changed - all ports but Civitavecchia-Rome, Cannes, Barcelona and Palma were dropped.

This resulted in passengers revolt among the ship's ~1200 guests.  As compensation, passengers received GBP 200 pp in cash, in addition to GBP 300 pp in onboard credit during the voyage. The ship returned to Southampton on May 16.

March 2010Propulsion / Power Loss

(P&O Artemis) In March-April 2010, due to engine issues resulting in reduced speed, the roundtrip Southampton to Caribbean cruise itinerary was altered -call port Gustavia (St Barthelemy Island) was skipped. As compensation, all passengers received GBP 150 pp in onboard credit.

2010Other Incidents

In 2010, Captain Sarah Breton (British) was assigned to command the cruise ship. At that time, she was world's second female cruise ship Captain (P&O's first), following Captain Karin Stahre Janson (Swedish), who in 2007 took charge of the Royal Caribbean ship Monarch of the Seas.

22 September 2009Other Incidents

(P&O Artemis) On September 22, 2009, P&O Cruises officially announced that the vessel has been sold to Artania Shipping. Until April 22, 2011, PandO continued to operate the ship under a charter. Then it was chartered to Phoenix Reisen and renamed "MV Artania".

December 2008Crew / Passenger Injuries and Overboards

(P&O Artemis) In December 2008, CDC reported on itinerary Dec 13-27, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 54 passengers (4,8% of all) and 4 crew (0,7% of all). The ship was on a 14-day cruise from homeport NOLA New Orleans.

10 March 2008Structural and Technical Issues

(P&O Artemis) On March 10, 2008, the ship departed from homeport Southampton England on a roundtrip Transatlantic cruise to the Caribbean. However, due to damages caused by stormy weather (anchor stowage/bow area) the vessel had to detour to Falmouth England for repairs. It left Falmouth UK on March 12 and continued on the voyage.

February 2008Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(P&O Artemis) In February 2008, CDC reported on itinerary Feb 8-26, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 61 passengers (5,6% of all) and 7 crew (1,2% of all). All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins for 48 hours. The ship was on an 18-day cruise from homeport Fort Lauderdale Florida.

March 2006Ship Listing

(P&O Artemis) March-April 2006, during the 9 days of the eastbound Transatlantic crossing (2nd leg) of a roundtrip Caribbean cruise from homeport Southampton, the ship experienced rough weather (rogue waves gale-force winds). As a result, the ship sustained numerous interior damages (broken tableware, furniture, TVs). The itinerary was also changed - the Azores were skipped. Reportedly, there was also a Norovirus outbreak, with only the main dining room restaurant open.

March 2005Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Royal Princess) In March 2005, CDC reported on itinerary March 7 to 24, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 38 passengers (out of 1163, or 3,3%) and 15 crew (out of 541, or 2,8%).

All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins. The ship was on 17-day Panama Canal cruise ending in homeport Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) Florida.

March 2004Cruise Illness / Virus Outbreaks

(MS Royal Princess) In March 2004, CDC reported on itinerary March 8 to 25, a Norovirus outbreak (gastrointestinal illness) infected 46 passengers (out of 1129, or 4,1%) and 12 crew (out of 539, or 2,2%).

All sick suffered from Norovirus symptoms (stomach cramps, diarrhoea) and were quarantined to their cabins. The ship was on 17-day Panama Canal cruise ending in homeport Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) Florida.