View source for Engineering:Ruby Princess

{{short description|British-American cruise ship}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| display title = ital
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Ruby Princess (ship, 2008) IMO 9378462; in Split, 2011-10-17 (2).jpg
| Ship caption = ''Ruby Princess'' leaving Split on 17 October 2011
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship name = ''Ruby Princess''
| Ship owner = Carnival Corporation & plc
| Ship operator = Princess Cruises
| Ship registry = {{flagicon|Bermuda}} [[Place:Hamilton, Bermuda|Hamilton, Bermuda]]
| Ship ordered = 2007
| Ship builder = [[Company:Fincantieri|Fincantieri]] (Monfalcone-Trieste, Italy)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shipparade.com/az/Ruby_Princess/Ruby_Princess.htm|title=Ruby Princess Cruise Ship Photos|work=ShipParade|access-date=30 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227121624/http://www.shipparade.com/az/Ruby_Princess/Ruby_Princess.htm|archive-date=27 December 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beyondships.com/files/RU_ship_facts.PDF|title=Ruby Princess Ship Facts|last=Wagner|first=Richard H.|work=BeyondShips|access-date=30 January 2010}}</ref>
| Ship original cost = US $400,000,000
| Ship yard number = 6150<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/world/highvalueships/cruiseoperators.htm|title=Large Cruise Ships by Operator|last=Colton|first=Tim|work=ShipbuildingHistory.com|access-date=13 February 2010|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5nV3ppTBz?url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/world/highvalueships/cruiseoperators.htm|archive-date=13 February 2010}}</ref>
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = June 2007
| Ship launched = 1 February 2008
| Ship completed = October 2008
| Ship christened = 6 November 2008 <small>by Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter</small><ref name="princess">{{cite news|url=http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na976|title=Ruby Princess Delivered by Shipyard Today; Sets Sail for Florida |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=Princess Cruises|access-date=30 January 2010}}</ref>
| Ship acquired = 23 October 2008
| Ship maiden voyage = 8 November 2008
| Ship in service = November 2008
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *{{IMO Number|9378462}}<ref name="coast guard">{{csr|register=PSIX|id=982126|shipname=Ruby Princess}}</ref>
*Call Sign: ZCDY2<ref name="coast guard"/>
*{{MMSI Number|310567000}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Ruby-Princess-9378462.html |title= Ruby Princess (IMO: 9378462) |access-date=2010-01-29 |work=vesseltracker.com}}</ref>
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = In service
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = ''Crown''-class [[Engineering:Cruise ship|cruise ship]]
| Ship length = {{convert|951|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|118|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{convert|8|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| Ship depth = 
| Ship decks = 19 decks
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship power = 4 x V12 [[Company:Wärtsilä|Wärtsilä]] Common Rail [[Engineering:Diesel generator|Diesel Generator]]s, 2 x inline 8 Wärtsilä Common Rail Diesel Generators.
| Ship propulsion = Twin propellers
| Ship speed = {{convert|23|kn}}
| Ship capacity = 3,080 passengers
| Ship crew = 1,100
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

The '''''Ruby Princess''''' is a ''Crown''-class [[Engineering:Cruise ship|cruise ship]] owned and operated by Princess Cruises.

The ''Ruby Princess'' was built in 2008 by [[Company:Fincantieri|Fincantieri]] in Trieste, Italy, as a [[Engineering:Sister ship|sister ship]] to {{ship||Crown Princess|2005|2}} and {{ship||Emerald Princess}}. She was turned over to Carnival Corporation and Princess Cruises in late October 2008.<ref name="cruisehive">{{cite web|url=http://www.cruisehive.com/cruiseships/princess/ruby/|title=Ruby Princess|work=Cruise Hive|access-date=30 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403215556/http://www.cruisehive.com/cruiseships/princess/ruby/|archive-date=3 April 2010}}</ref> She was formally named at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 6 November 2008 by Trista and Ryan Sutter.<ref name="princess"/>

The ship became infamous in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the source of over 10% of Australia's early [[Medicine:Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] cases.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Eleanor Ainge Roy |title=Have Australia and New Zealand stopped Covid-19 in its tracks? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/09/have-australia-new-zealand-stopped-covid-19-in-its-tracks-coronavirus |access-date=10 April 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 April 2020}}</ref> By August, the total number of deaths associated with the ship was 28 and the number of infections was estimated at no fewer than 900.<ref name="BBC17Aug">{{cite news |title=Ruby Princess: New South Wales premier apologises over cruise ship outbreak |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-53802816 |access-date=28 October 2020 |work=BBC |date=17 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> A cluster of cases in New Zealand was also linked to the ship.

==Design==
[[File:Ruby Princess2.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''Ruby Princess'' in Grenada at night]]
[[File:Ruby Princess (16417664468).jpg|thumb|''Ruby Princess'' docked at Pier 2 in Port Everglades in January 2015]]
''Ruby Princess'' continued the modified {{sclass-|Grand|cruise ship|0}} design with the Night Club moved just aft of the funnel, rather than suspended over the stern like the original designs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castlesoftheseas.nl/pageID_7144901.html|title=Grand Class|last=Klein|first=Robert|work=Castles of the Seas|access-date=13 February 2010 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5nV1sboCc?url=http://www.castlesoftheseas.nl/pageID_7144901.html |archive-date=13 February 2010}}</ref>

By gross tonnage she was the largest ship in the Princess fleet until the arrival of the new {{ship||Royal Princess|2013|2}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.princess.com/news/article.jsp?newsArticleId=na966|title=Princess Cruises Debuts New "Ultimate Ship Tour" with Launch of Ruby Princess |date=9 February 2008|publisher=Princess Cruises|access-date=30 January 2010}}</ref>

==Areas of operation==
''Ruby Princess'' was initially based in {{wipe|Los Angeles}} for cruises to the Mexican Riviera, Hawaii and California coastal cruises.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1781864&page=3 |title=Europe 2014 – Page 3 – Cruise Critic Message Board Forums |publisher=Boards.cruisecritic.com |access-date=2016-02-13}}</ref> In late 2019, ''Ruby Princess''' base moved to Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-08/fremantle-to-keep-carnival-australia-cruise-ships/9028348|title=Fremantle to keep cruise ships after port access stoush|first=David|last=Weber|date=8 October 2017|website=ABC News}}</ref>

{{clear|left}}
==2020: spread of COVID-19==
[[File:Ruby Princess in Ketchikan.jpg|thumb|''Ruby Princess'' docked in Ketchikan, Alaska during a 7-day Alaska cruise in August 2019]]

On 8 March 2020, ''Ruby Princess'' departed [[Place:Sydney|Sydney]], Australia for a 13-night cruise around [[Earth:New Zealand|New Zealand]]. Intended ports of call were Fiordland National Park (scenic cruising), Port Chalmers (for [[Place:Dunedin|Dunedin]]), [[Place:Akaroa|Akaroa]], [[Place:Wellington|Wellington]], [[Place:Napier, New Zealand|Napier]], Tauranga, [[Place:Auckland|Auckland]], and Paihia (for the Bay of Islands). The cruise was cut short on 15 March and ''Ruby Princess'' returned direct to Sydney from Napier.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zhou|first=Naaman|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/24/anatomy-of-a-coronavirus-disaster-how-2700-people-were-let-off-the-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-by-mistake|title=Anatomy of a coronavirus disaster: how 2,700 people were let off the Ruby Princess cruise ship by mistake|date=2020-03-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-16|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

''Ruby Princess''' visit to Napier on 15 March 2020 led to a [[Medicine:Disease cluster|cluster]] of 16 COVID-19 cases there.<ref>{{cite press release| date= 2020-03-26
| title= Three New Cases Of COVID-19 In HB – One Linked To Cruise Ship Ruby Princess | url= https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2003/S00523/three-new-cases-of-covid-19-in-hb-one-linked-to-cruise-ship-ruby-princess.htm | publisher= Hawke's Bay District Health Board | access-date= 28 March 2020| via= Scoop | quote= The third case was not linked to overseas travel but did have a connection to the Cruise Ship – The Ruby Princess. <br> Dr Eyre said anyone who had COVID-19 symptoms and came into close contact for 15 minutes or longer with passengers from The Ruby Princess, which docked 15 March, Napier Port, and is now symptomatic should call their GP.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/04/coronavirus-new-hawke-s-bay-cluster-linked-to-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-responsible-for-hundreds-of-australian-cases.html|title=Coronavirus: New Hawke's Bay cluster linked to Ruby Princess cruise ship responsible for hundreds of Australian cases|work=Newshub|access-date=2020-04-16|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases/covid-19-clusters|title=COVID-19 – Clusters|date=11 April 2020|website=Ministry of Health (NZ)|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref>

On 19 March 2020, the ship arrived back in Sydney, New South Wales two days early from the New Zealand cruise, docking at 3am, as some COVID-19 swabs needed to be tested as an urgent matter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ruby-princess-rushed-back-to-sydney-with-covid-19-swabs-20200506-p54qcp.html|title=Ruby Princess rushed back to Sydney with COVID-19 swabs|first=Laura|last=Chung|date=6 May 2020|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> The ship disembarked 2,700 passengers later that morning. The state health minister, Brad Hazzard announced on 20 March 2020 that 13 of the people on the ship had been tested for the [[Biology:SARS-CoV-2|SARS-CoV-2]] coronavirus, and 3 of them were positive. New South Wales health authorities asked all passengers to go into self-isolation.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/20/coronavirus-thousands-who-left-cruise-ship-in-sydney-told-to-self-isolate-after-three-people-test-positive?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WhatsApp|title= Coronavirus: thousands who left cruise ship in Sydney told to self-isolate after three people test positive|newspaper= {{wipe|The Guardian}}|date= 20 March 2020|access-date= 20 March 2020}}</ref> It was announced on 24 March that one passenger had died and 133 on the ship had tested positive for the coronavirus.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-24/coronavirus-cases-in-nsw-increase-and-pass-800/12080260|title= Coronavirus infections in NSW pass 800, Australia's eighth death confirmed|newspaper= ABC News|date= 24 March 2020|access-date= 24 March 2020}}</ref>

As of 30 March, at least 440 passengers had tested positive for the virus. 211 were in New South Wales, 71 in South Australia, 70 in Queensland, 43 in Western Australia, 22 in the Australian Capital Territory, 18 in Victoria, three in Tasmania and two in the Northern Territory.<ref name="guardian2020-03-31">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/31/more-than-400-coronavirus-cases-australia-total-ruby-princess-cruise-ship |title=More than 400 coronavirus cases – 10% of Australia's total – are from Ruby Princess cruise ship |newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=31 March 2020|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> By 31 March, five of them had died, one in the Australian Capital Territory, two in Tasmania, one in New South Wales and one in Queensland.<ref name="seven2020-03-31">{{cite news|url=https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-death-in-act-was-a-passenger-on-the-under-fire-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-c-901621 |title=Coronavirus death in ACT was a passenger on the under-fire Ruby Princess cruise ship|newspaper=Seven Network |date=31 March 2020|access-date=31 March 2020}}</ref> By 2 April, cases in New South Wales had risen to 337 passengers and 3 crew members, and total passenger cases had risen to at least 576,<ref name="nswh-2-4-2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20200402_00.aspx|title=COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics|publisher=NSW Health|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> excluding passengers who left Australia without being tested.

On 1 April, the ship was off Port Botany. The International Transport Workers' Federation had called on the Australian government to allow the crew members to be disembarked so that they could be flown to their countries of residence. At that point, there were 15,000 crew members in 18 cruise ships sitting off the Australian coast. Six from ''Ruby Princess'' had been medically evacuated.<ref name="guardian2020-04-01">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/01/coronavirus-calls-to-repatriate-15000-crew-members-from-cruise-ships-off-australias-coast?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_WhatsApp |title=Coronavirus: calls to repatriate 15,000 crew members from cruise ships off Australia's coast |newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=1 April 2020|access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref> Aspen Medical was contracted to carry out medical assessments on the ship and visited it on 2 April.<ref name="guardian2020-04-03">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/03/two-cruise-ships-agree-to-leave-australian-waters-as-police-raise-hopes-of-resolving-standoff |title=Two cruise ships agree to leave Australian waters as police raise hopes of resolving standoff |newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=3 April 2020|access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>

Another three passengers from the ship were reported dead in New South Wales on 5 April,<ref name="abc-5-4-20">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-05/nsw-health-reports-four-more-coronavirus-deaths/12122966 |title=NSW coronavirus death toll rises, with three people dying after travelling on the Ruby Princess|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=5 April 2020|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref> and a fourth in Queensland.<ref name=rpcrim/> Another died in Western Australia on 6 April<ref name="abc-6-4-20">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-06/wa-fourth-coronavirus-death-at-royal-perth-hospital/12124280 |title=WA coronavirus deaths rise to four as man from Ruby Princess dies of COVID-19 at Royal Perth Hospital|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=6 April 2020|access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref> followed by one in Tasmania on 7 April,<ref name="abc-7-4-20">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-07/coronavirus-tasmania-third-death/12127782 |title=Tasmanian man in his 80s becomes state's third coronavirus fatality|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=7 April 2020|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref> bringing total deaths to 13.<ref name="guardian2020-04-05">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/criminal-investigation-launched-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-coronavirus-disaster |title=Criminal investigation launched into Ruby Princess cruise ship coronavirus disaster |newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|date=5 April 2020|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="abc-6-4-20"/><ref name="abc-7-4-20"/> The death toll reached 21 on 18 April 2020 with the death of a second man in the United States.<ref name="abc-2020-04-18">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-18/second-international-coronavirus-death-on-the-ruby-princess/12161136 |title=Coronavirus outbreak on Ruby Princess claims second US man, family launches $1.6 million lawsuit|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=18 April 2020|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> About 900 passengers from countries other than Australia left Sydney after the ships arrival there; few specifics are known about infections or deaths in this group.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-13/coronavirus-concerns-for-international-ruby-princess-passengers/12143544 |title=Coronavirus concerns for 900 international passengers on Ruby Princess, who are not included in official stats |date=13 April 2020 |publisher=ABC |access-date=14 April 2020 }}</ref> The death toll was reported to have reached 22 on 13 May, with the death of an 81 year old passenger.<ref name="abc-2020-05-13">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/australia-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-ruby-princess-fatality/12239626 |title=Australia's coronavirus death toll rises after 81yo Ruby Princess passenger becomes latest fatality|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=13 May 2020|access-date=13 May 2020}}</ref> According to an inquiry by Bret Walker SC for the New South Wales government, the eventual death toll was at least 28, including eight from the United States.<ref name="abc-14-8-20">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-14/ruby-princess-coronavirus-inquiry-findings-handed-down/12557714 |title=Ruby Princess coronavirus inquiry slams 'inexcusable' mistakes made by NSW Health|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=14 August 2020|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref>{{Sfn|Special Commission|2020|p=265}}

There had been 662 confirmed cases of the virus,<ref name="Guardian-4-4-20">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/04/nsw-health-minister-defends-experts-who-handled-ruby-princess-coronavirus-outbreak |title=NSW health minister defends experts who handled Ruby Princess coronavirus outbreak|newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|first=Ben |last=Smee |date=4 April 2020}}</ref> including 342 in New South Wales. 11 cases of secondary transmission from people infected on the ship had been reported, which had not led to any deaths.<ref name="abc-5-4-20"/>

As of 8 April, the ship's crew of about 1,000 remained on board, with 200 exhibiting flu-like symptoms; 18 had tested positive for COVID-19. The vessel moored at Port Kembla on 5 April 2020.<ref name="abc.net.au">{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-09/nsw-police-seize-black-box-in-ruby-princess-coronavirus-probe/12135832 |title=NSW Police seize Ruby Princess's 'black box' in overnight raid for coronavirus investigation |date=9 April 2020 |publisher=ABC|access-date=9 April 2020 }}</ref> 542 crew members were taken off the ship for repatriation to Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States between 21 and 23 April.<ref name="abc-2020-04-21">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/some-crew-on-coronavirus-cruise-ship-ruby-princess-taken-off/12167856 |title=First Ruby Princess crew members disembark after coronavirus isolation, hundreds still left on board|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=21 April 2020|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="abc-2020-04-23"/> 190 members of the crew have tested positive for the virus.<ref name="Guardian-23-4-20">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/23/ruby-princess-crew-fear-for-their-health-as-ship-leaves-australia |title=Ruby Princess crew fear for their health as ship leaves Australia|newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}}|first=Ben |last=Smee |date=23 April 2020|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref> The ship left Port Kembla on 23 April.<ref name="abc-2020-04-23">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-23/coronavirus-ruby-princess-finally-departs-australian-waters/12176232 |title=Coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess departs Port Kembla for international waters |newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=23 April 2020|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref> On 7 May, the ship arrived in [[Place:Manila|Manila]] and disembarked 214 Filipino crew members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arab.news/paugq|title=Cruise ship linked to Australia coronavirus infections sails into Manila|date=7 May 2020|website=Arab News}}</ref>

=== Criminal investigation ===
On 5 April 2020, New South Wales Police launched a [[Criminal investigation|criminal investigation]] into whether the operator of the ship, Carnival Australia, broke the ''[[Biology:Biosecurity Act 2015|Biosecurity Act 2015]]'' (Cwth) and New South Wales state laws, by deliberately concealing COVID-19 cases.<ref name=rpcrim>{{cite web | last1=Nguyen | first1=Kevin | last2=Thomas | first2=Sarah | title=Ruby Princess coronavirus deaths to be subject of criminal investigation by NSW Police homicide squad | website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=5 April 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-05/nsw-police-investigate-ruby-princess-cruise-coronavirus-deaths/12123212 | access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref> A report by ''{{wipe|The Guardian}}''{{'}}s Matilda Boseley commented: "Since the ship's 2,700 passengers were allowed to freely disembark in Sydney on 19 March, federal and state authorities have been pinballing blame."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/05/criminal-investigation-launched-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-coronavirus-disaster|title=Criminal investigation launched into Ruby Princess cruise ship coronavirus disaster |last=Boseley |first=Matilda |date=5 April 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=9 June 2020 |quote=At least 11 passengers from ship have now died, more than 30% of Australia’s total Covid-19 deaths}}</ref>

On 7 April 2020, it was reported that the New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, had requested Crown Law to check whether her country's laws had been broken.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gower |first1=Patrick |title=Coronavirus: Jacinda Ardern seeks legal advice on Ruby Princess cruise ship |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/04/coronavirus-jacinda-ardern-seeks-legal-advice-on-ruby-princess-cruise-ship.html |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=Newshub |date=7 April 2020}}</ref>

As of the evening of 8 April, 30 investigators had been assigned to Strike Force Bast which was looking into the Ruby Princess case: as to "the communications, actions, and other circumstances that led to the docking and disembarking of the vessel" without a quarantine.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGODQxMTMuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D |title=Strike Force Bast underway to investigate actions surrounding Ruby Princess |date=8 April 2020 |publisher=NSW Police|access-date=9 April 2020 }}</ref> The ship's [[Engineering:Voyage data recorder|voyage data recorder]] had been seized.<ref name="abc.net.au"/>

=== Special Commission of enquiry ===
On 15 April, the NSW State Government announced a Special Commission of inquiry to investigate events surrounding the ''Ruby Princess''.<ref name="nsw-gov-spec-comm-1">{{cite web |title=Special commission of inquiry into Ruby Princess |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/news/special-commission-of-inquiry-into-ruby-princess |website=www.nsw.gov.au |publisher=NSW Government |access-date=27 April 2020 |language=en-AU |date=15 April 2020}}</ref> The Commission was headed by [[Social:Barrister|barrister]] Bret Walker. 

The Commission held hearings on 22 and 23 April for crew members prior to the ship leaving Port Kembla for [[Place:Manila|Manila]], late on 23 April.<ref name="inquiry-hearings-22--24">{{cite web |title=Hearings - The Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess |url=https://www.rubyprincessinquiry.nsw.gov.au/hearings/ |website=www.rubyprincessinquiry.nsw.gov.au |publisher=Dept. of the Premier and Cabinet |access-date=27 April 2020 |date=April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Kontominas">{{cite web | url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-23/coronavirus-ruby-princess-cruise-ship-departs-australian-waters/12176232 | title = Coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess departs Port Kembla for international waters | last = Kontominas | first = Bellinda | work = ABC News | date = 23 April 2020 | access-date = 9 June 2020 }}</ref> It published its report on 14 August 2020.<ref name="abc-14-8-20"/>{{Sfn|Special Commission|2020}}{{explain|date=March 2021}}

=== Biosecurity review ===
The Australian [[Biology:Biosecurity in Australia|Inspector-General of Biosecurity]] also conducted a review of at-border delivery of human biosecurity functions in regard to the Ruby Princess incident. His report was released on 29 April 2021 and found that inspection protocols were not followed as unwell passengers should have been screened individually by following a checklist but this was not done.<ref name="abc-aust-igobs-24aug'21">{{cite news |last1=Conifer |first1=Dan |title=Report finds federal government failings likely contributed to Ruby Princess COVID-19 disaster |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-24/report-finds-federal-government-failings-ruby-princess-covid-19/100380948 |access-date=27 August 2021 |work=7:30 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 August 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name="igobs-aust-ruby-report-29apr'21">{{cite web |author1=Inspector-General of Biosecurity |title=Confidence testing for at-border delivery of critical human biosecurity functions – Ruby Princess cruise ship incident |url=https://www.igb.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/igb-confidence-testing-report_1.pdf |website=www.igb.gov.au |publisher=Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment |access-date=27 August 2021 |language=en-AU |format=PDF |date=29 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The report made over 40 recommendations to improve Australias' human biosecurity management on ships.<ref name="igobs-aust-ruby-recommends-29apr'21">{{cite press |author1=Inspector-General of Biosecurity |title=Inspector-General of Biosecurity review of at-border delivery of human biosecurity functions – Ruby Princess cruise ship incident |url=https://www.igb.gov.au/media-releases/igb-review-border-delivery-human-bio-functions-ruby-princess |access-date=27 August 2021 |work=www.igb.gov.au |publisher=Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment |date=29 April 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Medicine:Pratique|Pratique]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book|url=https://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/assets/dpc-nsw-gov-au/publications/The-Special-Commission-of-Inquiry-into-the-Ruby-Princess-Listing-1628/Report-of-the-Special-Commission-of-Inquiry-into-the-Ruby-Princess.pdf|title=Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess|publisher=Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess / New South Wales government|isbn=978-0-646-82316-4|date=14 August 2020|access-date=14 August 2020|ref={{SfnRef|Special Commission|2020}}}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Duncan |title=The Ruby Princess|date=23 February 2021 |publication-date=2021|publisher=Pan Macmillan Australia|isbn=978-1-76098-297-3}}

== External links ==
* {{official}}
* [https://www.rubyprincessinquiry.nsw.gov.au/ Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess]

{{Princess Ships}}{{COVID-19 pandemic in Australia}}{{Coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand}}

[[Category:Cruise ships]]

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