With the news that a Holland America cruise ship carrying 42 sick crew members and passengers may dock at Port Everglades, Rep. Chip LaMarca (R – Lighthouse Point) urged those organizations in Unified Command (Port Everglades, Broward County Commission, Broward Sheriff’s Office, United States Coast Guard, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, Centers for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health) to prevent the ship from docking in Broward County.
“While I have been and will continue to be a major supporter of our ports and the cruise industry, we cannot allow this ship to dock in a county that continues to be one of the top communities for COVID-19 cases. I urge all the key decision makers on this issue to stop this ship from docking at Port Everglades.
“Since February, I’ve been working with ports across the state to ensure they had increased cleaning protocols and were taking every precaution to protect employees, visitors, and our residents. Our ports are also part of the very important supply chain that includes logistics companies like rail and trucking. We would not only put residents and employees in danger, but possibly disrupt these vital industries that connect resources across the state. I’m calling on Unified Command leaders to protect our workers, residents, and the entire community by taking immediate action.”
