Cruise ship diverted to Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A luxury cruise ship carrying 700 crew and passengers was diverted to this free port on Thursday due to the “no-sail zone” policy imposed on Manila Bay during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

Silver Shadow, a millennium class luxury cruise ship registered in Bahamas, docked at the Alava Wharf here at 7:30 a.m. and was expected to stay overnight, said Fidel de la Cruz, head of the terminal division of the seaport department of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

“The Silver Shadow is a diverted ship. It’s supposed to dock at Manila Bay today but since it is a no-sail zone during the Apec summit, the ship was diverted here,” De la Cruz told the Inquirer.

He said the ship, which came from Hong Kong, had visited Coron in Palawan and Boracay in Aklan before arriving here. The ship’s passengers are mostly Europeans and senior citizens, he said. It was the only cruise ship to visit the Subic free port this year.

“We’re hoping that accommodating the diverted ship here will expose Subic to other international cruise vessels that might want to consider visiting this free port in the future. This is a great opportunity for Subic to have them,” he said.

As soon as the ship arrived here, its crew and passengers were treated to a festive welcome by the SBMA brass band and personnel, mostly from the tourism and seaport department.

A group of young street dancers from Iba town in Zambales province, also performed for the visitors. Jem Camba, SBMA tourism department officer in charge, said the ship’s passengers were scheduled to visit tourist attractions in the free port and the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan.  Allan Macatuno, Inquirer Central Luzon