Cruise ships Serenade of the Seas (IMO 9228344), Celebrity Reflection (IMO 9506459) and Carnival Legend (IMO 9224726) were dispatched to assist with a possible evacuation request from St Vincent in early April.
After St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on April 8th ordered an evacuation for the northern tip of the island, the Serenade of the Seas berthed at a pier in Kingstown on the morning of April 9th, departing later the same day for Castries, St. Lucia. It was the only vessel to come alongside the dock and to make a transit to another nearby island, based on AIS data provided by Pole Star. The Serenade and the Celebrity Reflection rendezvoused briefly off St Lucia on the morning of April 11th, and all three ships were waiting off St Vincent on April 12th.
The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a Venezuelan landing craft – identifiable by its hull number as the ex-South Korean LST Goajira (T-63) – to Kingstown on Monday April 12th, carrying “much needed supplies and equipment,” according to St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.
Eruptions continued this week, with a new giant ash cloud approaching 2km high and mixtures of rock and ash flowing down the western slope of the volcano. UWI Seismic Research Centre said that the volcanic activity could last for days or even weeks.
2003-built, Bahamas-flagged, 90,090 gt Serenade of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean vessel insured with Gard. As of April 13th it was underway off Castries, St Lucia.
2012-built, Malta-flagged, 125,466 gt Celebrity Reflection is a Celebrity Cruises vessel insured with Steamship Mutual. As of April 13th it was underway south-east of St Vincent.
2002-built, Malta-flagged, 85,942 gt Carnival Legend is a Carnival Cruise Line vessel entered with Steamship Mutual and UK Club. As of April 13th it was to the east of Castries, St Lucia.