Taiwan's Minister of Transport Wang Kuo-Tsai revealed today that the CECC (Central Epidemic Command Center) had approved a plan for Explorer Dream ship to resume passenger shipping operations.
Responding to the news, Genting Cruise Lines announced their boat would begin voyages in January 2022. Wang added that the director of the Hospital & Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission at the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Wang Bisheng, would assist the cruise industry "with implementing disease prevention measures."
MS Explorer Dream has been idling in Keelung Harbour (Taipei) for much of the year, unable to leave homeport without permission from the CECC. The company burns ~NT$120 million (USD 4,33 million) per month the vessel stays tied up in the harbour, Legislator Chiu Chenyuan revealed.
Chiu added that Explorer Dream had been based in Taiwan for 2 decades. He hoped the Ministry of Transportation would do what it could to help the industry make a fresh start in 2022.