The cruise-ship season in Canada is all but sunk as Ottawa extends its ban on large ships in Canadian waters until the end of October in an attempt to contain COVID-19.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Thursday passenger ships with overnight accommodations for more than 100 people 害羞草研究所� including both passengers and crew 害羞草研究所� can害羞草研究所檛 operate in Canadian waters until at least Oct. 31.

The move extends and expands an order issued in mid-March that barred ships with more than 500 passengers from Canadian waters until July.

Ships with more than 12 passengers can害羞草研究所檛 go to the Arctic until at least Oct. 31, for fear that one might carry COVID-19 to a remote northern community.

Other than that, after July 1, provincial and regional health officials will decide when and where smaller vessels can operate.

害羞草研究所淜eeping Canadians and transportation workers safe continues to be my top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic,害羞草研究所� Garneau said.

Garneau said he also understands this will create a significant economic hardship for Canada害羞草研究所檚 tourism industry. He indicated the federal tourism department is working on a plan to help.

Last year 140 cruise ships brought more than two million visitors to Canadian ports. A 2016 study found the cruise industry was large and growing, contributing more than $3 billion to Canada害羞草研究所檚 economy, including nearly $1.4 billion in direct spending by cruise lines and their passengers. More than 23,000 Canadians were directly or indirectly employed because of cruise ships.

British Columbia, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces benefit the most.

害羞草研究所淭he human impact is dramatic, there害羞草研究所檚 no question about it,害羞草研究所� said Charlottetown Harbour Authority CEO Mike Cochrane. 害羞草研究所淭o see it all come to a halt, it害羞草研究所檚 a very sad day for us.害羞草研究所�

The cruise industry害羞草研究所檚 direct and indirect economic impact to Prince Edward Island topped $52 million last year, he said. Until the pandemic hit, projections for the season 害羞草研究所� late April to late October in PEI 害羞草研究所� hovered around $60 million.

害羞草研究所淵ou look at mom-and-pop shops, restaurants, tour bus operators, taxis, Green Gables 害羞草研究所� it reaches everywhere,害羞草研究所� Cochrane said.

He and other officials linked to the cruise industry said they understood that the health and safety of local residents comes first. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no road map for this pandemic, so all you can really do is roll up your sleeves and put your heart into rebuilding it,害羞草研究所� Cochrane said.

Home ports 害羞草研究所� where vessels are based 害羞草研究所� such as Vancouver or Quebec City stir up even more economic activity than ports of call as cruise lines stock up on fuel, food, alcohol, bedding and other supplies.

Industrial sectors feel the ripple effects of the virus too. A massive federally owned dry dock just west of Victoria typically supplements its work for the Royal Canadian Navy with cruise ship contracts.

害羞草研究所淲hen one of those cruise ships is getting refit, there can be up to 800 people working intensely for several weeks,害羞草研究所� said Barry Penner, a spokesman for Cruise Lines International Association 害羞草研究所� North West and Canada.

The refurbishments can include everything from new carpets to fresh bathroom fixtures, cabinetry, sonar, telecommunications and wastewater treatment systems, providing business to regional companies.

Cruise ships were one of the first- and worst-hit sectors from COVID-19 with hundreds of passengers falling ill on ships as they sailed in various parts of the world. Transport Canada monitored hundreds of ships with Canadians on board as they battled outbreaks, or weren害羞草研究所檛 allowed to dock in planned ports as countries closed to foreign tourists to keep COVID-19 out.

Several hundred Canadians were flown back to Canada and quarantined in Trenton, Ont., and Cornwall, Ont. after disembarking ships with outbreaks on them that docked in Japan and California. At least a dozen passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship were diagnosed with COVID-19 after being quarantined in Trenton. One Canadian passenger who had been on board the Diamond Princess died in Japan in March after being hospitalized with COVID-19.

The Canadian Press

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