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Thursday, 14 January 2010 14:22
Independence of the Seas has been cleared to call at Labadee on Friday, a Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. spokeswoman told Seatrade Insider. The ship is loaded with relief supplies to be distributed in Haiti through a local aid organization.

The company said more thorough inspections of its Labadee facilities confirmed no damages from the devastating 7.0 earthquake that shook Haiti on Tuesday night.

Labadee is ‘critical to Haiti’s recovery and hundreds of people rely on Labadee for their livelihood,’ according to John Weis, associate vp, private destinations, writing on the blog of Adam Goldstein, president and ceo of Royal Caribbean International. Weis noted this perspective was confirmed by conversations with Leslie Voltaire, the United Nations special envoy of the Haiti government.

‘We also have tremendous opportunities to use our ships as transport vessels for relief supplies and personnel to Haiti,’ Weis said.

Royal Caribbean has loaded the first relief supplies on Independence of the Seas, which will be taken to Labadee and distributed through the organization Food for the Poor.

The company is coordinating additional supplies that will be loaded on Navigator of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas and taken to Labadee on Monday and Tuesday.

The goods include rice, dried beans, water, dried milk and canned items. Weis acknowledged the suppliers and members of the company’s supply chain team for coordinating the relief goods, specifically Tom Weiland, Laura Pullens, Lisa Guia and Don Cope.

Weis suggests that anyone wishing to help the Haiti relief effort make a donation to Food for the Poor at secure3.convio.net/ffp/site/Donation2?df_id=6780&6780.do...

Vereine bitten Bevölkerung um Hilfe
Auch Online-Spenden sind möglich.
Nach der Erdbebenkatastrophe auf Haiti haben zahlreiche Hilfsorganisationen die österreichische Bevölkerung um Spenden gebeten.

* Nachbar in Not: PSK, Kontonummer: 90.150.300, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe: PSK, Kontonummer: 2.313.300, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz: PSK, Kontonummer: 2.345.000, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* CARE: PSK, Kontonummer: 1.236.000, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Haiti bzw. online

* Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Österreich: PSK, Kontonummer: 00001-834-000, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* Caritas: PSK, Kontonummer: 7.700 004, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria: PSK, Kontonummer: 1.000.999, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* UNICEF Österreich: PSK, Kontonummer: 1.516.500, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Kinder Haiti bzw. online

* Ärzte ohne Grenzen: PSK, Kontonummer: 930.40.950, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Notfall-Fonds bzw. online

* Kindernothilfe: Erste Bank , Kontonummer: 310028-03031, BLZ: 20111, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* Volkshilfe: PSK, Kontonummer: 1.740.400, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Haiti bzw. online

* Kindernothilfe: Erste Bank , Kontonummer: 31.002.803.031, BLZ: 20.111, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* Hilfswerk Austria International: PSK, Kontonummer: 9000.1002, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Erdbeben Haiti bzw. online

* SOS Kinderdorf: PSK, Kontonummer: 1.566.000, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Haiti bzw. online

* World Vision: PSK, Kontonummer: 90.890.000, BLZ: 60.000, Kennwort: Haiti bzw. online

The Cruise Log: Royal Caribbean's private beach resort in Haiti, Labadee, was undamaged by this week's massive earthquake in the country, but the company is waiting for approval from the Haitian government before it resumes visits to the destination.

"Site inspections of Labadee, Haiti, our private destination, report no apparent damage to our buildings, pier and attractions," the line says in a statement. "Royal Caribbean International and (sister line) Celebrity Cruises are eager to take guests, as well as humanitarian assistance, to Haiti as soon as possible, though we are awaiting confirmation from the Haitian government on when our return is feasible."

A frequent stop for Royal Caribbean ships for more than two decades, privately-operated Labadee offers passengers beaches, watersports, a Haitian flea market and a zip-line. It's often billed as the biggest provider of tourist revenue in the country and employs hundreds of Haitians.

Four Royal Caribbean-owned ships with a combined capacity for more than 13,000 vacationers are scheduled to call on Labadee in the next two weeks: Royal Caribbean's 3,654-passenger Independence of the Seas (scheduled to visit on Friday); Royal Caribbean's 3,114-passenger Navigator of the Seas (scheduled to visit Monday); Royal Caribbean's 3,654-passenger Liberty of the Seas (scheduled to visit Tuesday); and the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Solstice (scheduled to visit on Jan. 22).

"We are extremely saddened to hear of the destruction in Haiti caused by the massive earthquake," the line says in its statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and their family members." —Gene Sloan

Das war klar... Ich bin , da es noch schlechter wäre, wenn jetzt die touristischen Einnahmen wegfallen...