1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Hello, Katie Wolf and three point sixty online at Mixed 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: one O four nine dot com. It's twenty seven minutes 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: after eleven o'clock. Love to hear from you today. If 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: you've got something on your mind that you think we 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: need to know about, coming your way in a little 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: while we will whip around the nation. I'll let you 7 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: know what's making news headlines in other states and territories. 8 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: But joining me in the studio right now, Darwin Port, 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: General Manager of Operations, Ian Niblock, Good morning, Ian. 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 11 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: Always good to have you in the studio and find 12 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: out what's going on around the place. And I know 13 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: that we've got a French naval ship currently here. 14 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: Yep, we have. So it's actually nice to see a 15 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: ship at Fort Hill Wharf because that's been unusual these dates. 16 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 2: So yeah, French naval ship the Valdemire has come alongside, 17 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 2: going to be alongside for four days. You know that 18 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 2: the ship's been at sea visiting various places around the Pacific. 19 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: Last port was in excess of fourteen days before she 20 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 2: arrived here. So it's covering off that COVID sone. All 21 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: of the crew have been tested and then and then 22 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: they've all come back with negative tests, so they've been 23 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: allowed to come ashore and I guess they'll have a 24 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 2: bit of R and R and spend a bit of 25 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 2: money and just enjoy being in Darwin and being off 26 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: the ship. 27 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: How many of them are on board? Do you know? 28 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: Do you know? 29 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: I don't know that, but because I haven't I haven't checked. 30 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: And it's not like the cruise ship. No, No, it's 31 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: medium sized, so it's probably you know, when they have 32 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: a lot of people on those ships, I would say 33 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 2: it'll be an excess of one hundred people. 34 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: Because we always get a few questions like about the 35 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,399 Speaker 1: you know, in terms of the COVID precautions, what needs 36 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: to happen before they're allowed to get off the ship. 37 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: And we'd ask the Health Minister about it a while 38 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: back and she'd said that, no, there is quite a 39 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,279 Speaker 1: stringent process in place. 40 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, there is. And so you know, there's been a 41 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,199 Speaker 2: couple of occasions in the past where we've had people 42 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: who've been on well on board ships and we and 43 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: we change all the arrival pros calls for those ships. 44 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: In this case, it was a it was just we'll 45 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: test everyone on board, we'll get the COVID test back 46 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: if there's any If there's any positives, that would have 47 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: been dealt with differently obviously, but they're all negatives. So 48 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: there enjoying themselves in Darwin. 49 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: And how long are they going to be here? 50 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: For four days? So they're about halfway through at the 51 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: moment and that's all good. 52 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I know that, Well, it might not be 53 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:11,519 Speaker 1: the only ship that we see for a little while, 54 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: looking as though there could be the possibility of some 55 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: small cruise liners. 56 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: Well there is a possibility, and we've got bookings in 57 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: our system kicking off from the beginning of April, and 58 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: it is the smaller, the smaller cruise vessels that typically 59 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 2: do the Kimberlely cruises. So the primary operator is an 60 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 2: Australian operator, Coral Expeditions. They've got three ships booked in 61 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 2: and we're just fingers crossed toes cross that it's going 62 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: to happen. There's going to be very tight restrictions that 63 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: have been proposed, so it'll be one hundred testing of everybody, 64 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 2: crew and passengers before they're allowed to board the ship. 65 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: They'll be tighter controls around all of their shore excursions. 66 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 2: They have to have ilation capability on board the ship, 67 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 2: so no doubt that would be a change for the 68 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 2: ship in terms of how they would manage that. And 69 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: then the passenger numbers will be restricted so that they 70 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 2: can meet the physical distancing criteria, and I suppose that 71 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: that's primarily at meal times and things like that, so 72 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: you know, it's not without some challenges, but we know 73 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 2: the cruise line is really keen to get cruising again. 74 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: And then I suppose flowing off from the smaller ships 75 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: will then hopefully start to see the bigger ships. 76 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: Right here, I was going to say, in the initial stages, 77 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: is it more going to just be some of those 78 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: domestic sort of ships, not international ones, so that they 79 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: can get the process right first. 80 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it is. And domestic ships and domestic travelers, 81 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: and of course, you know, we can't travel overseas, so 82 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 2: there's a great opportunity to go and travel and see 83 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: Australia or go on a ship and see parts of 84 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: Australia coastline that you might not get to see. We've 85 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 2: certainly done that as a family, and it's just recently 86 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: even really thought of it, and it's great, you know, 87 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: it's so a great opportunity, and we're starting with the 88 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 2: domestic market and then and then we really hope that 89 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: in the future we will see that the return of 90 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: international vessel. 91 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: Well, I mean, when you're talking about the domestic market, 92 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: it's no different to people getting on planes at this 93 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: point in time and traveling around as in you know, 94 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: in terms of your COVID management, I'm assuming, but just 95 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: making sure that people are spread out. 96 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 2: I think it's probably easier on a ship because you're 97 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 2: not tightly packed in. It's probably easier to do the 98 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: sanitizing and for people to physical distance, and so I 99 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 2: think overall it's probably easier on a small ship than 100 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: it is on a plane. When you start talking about 101 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 2: the big ships with large numbers of people, I think 102 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 2: there's going to be some challenges in that space, but 103 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: you know, hey, challenges are there to be overcome. You 104 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: just got to find good, safe solutions and that will 105 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: allow the cruising to start again. And I know a 106 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 2: lot of people are keen to get back to cruising 107 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 2: and is it like, is it. 108 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: Going to it's obviously, you know, it's a market that 109 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: we're missing in the territory at the moment. When it 110 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: comes to our tourism and our economy. So I'm assuming 111 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: that even though they're you know, they're not as large 112 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: as those big international ships, that it does mean that 113 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 1: we're going to have some of those tourists back in 114 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: the city. 115 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 2: It does definitely, and you know that they'll no doubt 116 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: come and spend some money in the city, They'll spend 117 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: some time, which will grow our numbers, and you know, 118 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: it's just it'd be nice to just welcome some visitors 119 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,239 Speaker 2: back and see the smiley faces as they walk around 120 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 2: and enjoy our tropical, tropical city. 121 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: Are they very big? Those those domestic cruise ships, Like 122 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: how many do you usually have on them? 123 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: So they're less than one hundred people in most cases, 124 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 2: relatively small ships about one hundred meters, which you know, 125 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: a lot of people might think that's quite a big ship, 126 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 2: but by comparison to some of our other ones, no 127 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 2: it's not. But yeah, and some very modern tonnage as well. 128 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 2: A couple of the ships are really new and beautiful inside. 129 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 2: So great opportunity. 130 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, So when will we know for sure if it's 131 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: definitely a go up by. 132 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 2: I'm reckoning by early March or mid March latest, will 133 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 2: will be so all the proposals have been put up. 134 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 2: I guess it's about government saying yes, yeah, well let 135 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 2: us know. 136 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: We'd be keen to find out when it does get 137 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: the go ahead, and if it gets the go ahead. 138 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: Well we're sitting excited about it. So yeah, fingers crossed. 139 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, well in the block. It's always wonderful to talk 140 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: to you, of course. The Darwin Port General Manager of Operations, 141 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: thank you very much for coming in today. 142 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: It's my pleasure, Katie. 143 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: Thank you.