CRUISE shipping is set to resume in Western Australia this month under staged and stringent measures established by the state government.

The announcement follows the federal government’s decision to lift the ban on cruise ships under the Biosecurity Act 2015, effective 17 April.

The decision allows each state to determine a timeframe for the recommencement of cruises in their jurisdictions.

As such, Western Australia’s chief health officer will release protocols for both Australian and international flagged cruise ships operating within the state’s jurisdictional waters from the day the ban lifts.

As a starting point, the protocol permits the return of cruise ships with a maximum of 350 guests and crew onboard.

The return of smaller expedition vessels falls under the first stage of the protocol, and includes vessels such as those owned by Ponant and Silversea.

Larger cruise ships are expected to return to Fremantle and other regional ports from 1 October this year.

Smaller WA port destinations set to receive larger vessels later this year include Esperance, Albany, Busselton, Bunbury, Geraldton, Exmouth, Port Hedland, and Broome.

Premier Mark McGowan said the recommencement of cruises will provide an economic boost for the tourism sector.

“Our safe and staged approach to the return of cruise shipping means we provide an avenue for these businesses to operate safely once their cruising season starts, while managing the public health risk,” Mr McGowan said.

“The interim measures which allow smaller vessels to operate similar to what our neighbours in the Northern Territory are doing for the cruise season in the northern waters.”

Under the mandates, cruise vessels operating in Western Australia will be required to have a COVID-19 management plan prior to undertaking itineraries in WA waters.

All crew and passengers will be required to have received two doses of vaccine, and a third dose if eligible, and cruise companies will be required to make a declaration regarding their responsibilities prior to arrival.

“The advice we’ve received indicates that it is now possible for cruising to resume in Western Australia with safeguards in place,” health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.

“Importantly, all cruise liners will need to have a COVID-19 management plan and meet vaccination requirements,” she said.

Tourism minister Roger Cook said the safe continuation of cruising will see the industry grow across the state’s 10 cruise destinations in the future.  

“The cruise ship sector has potential to make a significant contribution to grow jobs and provide a boost to the tourism sector, and pre-COVID-19, injected millions across the state’s port destinations each year,” he said.

The first of the larger vessels expected to visit Fremantle this year is Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, scheduled for 7 November.