In one of the more unique operations generated by the COVID-19 outbreak Costa Cruises’ 3,693-passenger capacity Costa Diadema was transited through the Suez Canal northbound on March 23 using remote pilotage because of 65 cases of possible infection on board.
Four senior pilots guided the 1,004-foot long vessel from two escorting tugs, one positioned in front and one astern, using radar and minute-by-minute radio follow-up in full coordination with transit control offices and navigation monitoring stations along the waterway.
In addition, the 2013-built cruise ship was transited well ahead of the day’s regularly scheduled northbound convoy and given a large interval of time between it and following vessels.
