Holland America Line ships permitted to sail through Panama Canal

Holland America Line’s ship Zaandam, which has reported ‘flu-like symptoms’ among 130 of its guests, has begun transferring healthy passengers to sister vessel Rotterdam.

Four people have died and two others have tested positive for coronavirus on the ship, which has been sailing off the coast of Panama.

Zaandam had been planning to sail to Florida but Panamanian authorities originally said no vessel with confirmed coronavirus cases on board could pass through the Panama Canal.

However, Zaandam and Rotterdam have now been granted permission to transit the canal on ‘humanitarian’ grounds, but authorities said no-one was allowed to disembark.

MMP