To provide the maximum protection for guests and crew, PONANT, World Leader of Luxury Expeditions releases multi-level protocols for the protection against Covid-19.

“Working towards the resumption of expeditions, our priority is to ensure the safety of our guests and crew, and so PONANT headquarters have developed a comprehensive system of operational protocols to be deployed fleet-wide. We are committed to providing all our guests with peace of mind when travelling on-board one of our small ships and when going ashore as part of their expedition experience,” says Monique Ponfoort, PONANT Vice President Asia-Pacific.

“To date there have not been any cases of Covid-19 infection on any of PONANT's 11 ships, and this enhanced protocol is designed to maintain that record."

“Our team of experts have been working with some of the world's best organisations such as the IHU (Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire) Méditerranée Infection of Marseilles, one of the world's leading centres in the field of infectious diseases, with the aim of providing a safe Covid-free environment for all, during the entire expedition experience.”

“As a result, PONANT is implementing a 3-Shield Protocol complementing our already existing sanitary and hygiene measures. Having a fleet of small ships and a small capacity onboard makes this operationally manageable.”

“This Covid-Safe Protocol is being made available to all our current and future guests, as well as our trade partners.”

An online version of PONANT's 'Covid-Safe Protocol' Manifesto is available here.

Summary of PONANT's Covid-Safe Protocol                                              

PONANT will apply a double precautionary protection principle: filtering and decontamination measures will be added to the on-board sanitary protocols when boarding.

PONANT will deploy on-board daily monitoring and diagnostics checks to maintain the “Covid-safe” status of the ongoing voyage.

A 3-Shield Protocol

1. Reinforced on-board access conditions for guests, crew members and goods.
2. Strict on-board sanitary protocols to ensure a Covid-safe zone.
3. Daily tracking and monitoring of the sanitary bubble onboard.

Key Points                                                                           

• Each ship features a latest generation on-board hospital with specialist equipment dedicated to the fight against Covid-19 including autonomous biological and serological detection capability and high-capacity infrared temperature control tools, plus high-tech radiology, biology and resuscitation equipment, staffed by expert medical team - physician with emergency skills and an experienced nurse
• Prior to boarding all guests and crew members will have to present a signed doctor's medical form, complete a health questionnaire, and undertake a health check and screening by the ship's medical staff
• Strictly controlled boarding for guests, crew, baggage, goods, and merchandise
• Social distancing requirements applied on board and during shore excursions
• Constant and systematic cleaning, disinfection, and decontamination of all areas on board
• Comprehensive sanitation and sanitary management of air circulation
• Highly supervised public areas and on-board activities
• Re-boarding after shore excursions allowed only after a temperature check and by applying protection and disinfection procedures (individuals and personal belongings)
• Restaurants capacity has been reduced by 50%, and layouts have been redesigned with no more buffet options, and will only offer contactless a la carte services
• Reduced capacity for entertainment onboard and theatre.

For details of PONANT's Covid-Safe Protocol including pre-boarding requirements, mandatory sanitary protocols, tracking systems, intervention, preventive measures, cleaning and decontamination, ventilation management, activities, social distancing, and on-shore visits, please visit au.ponant.com/sail-with-confidence, or contact PONANT on 1300 737 178 (Australia) or 0800 767 018 (New Zealand).

Note: When PONANT was forced to cease operations on March 15, the company deployed a plan to shelter its ships and crew members until the resumption of its operations. The small size of its vessels, the medical infrastructure and teams on board, its protocols and the professionalism of its crews ensured that there were no cases of Covid-19 contamination throughout the fleet.

Ends