Cruise ship carrying 1,500 passengers stuck in Spain port over document row

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A cruise ship reportedly carrying 1,500 passengers was left stuck in the Spanish northeastern port of Barcelona because of the visa issues of a gaggle of Bolivian passengers who have been on account of disembark, officers mentioned on Wednesday.

Authorities say 69 Bolivians aren’t being allowed to depart the ship as a result of they lack legitimate paperwork to enter the European Union’s border-free Schengen space.

Spanish authorities officers in the town mentioned they’re in contact with Bolivian authorities and the MSC Cruises Company to resolve the state of affairs. The ship had sailed from Brazil to cowl a route in the Mediterranean Sea.

Spanish state information company Efe and different media mentioned that some 1,500 passengers have been in the meantime on board the MSC Armony hoping to proceed the cruise to Croatia.

A press release from the Bolivian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday mentioned the Bolivian Embassy in Spain and the nation’s Consulate General in Barcelona “are carrying out the pertinent steps to address this case,” coordinating with Spanish authorities, in addition to with the MSC Cruises Company.

MSC Cruises mentioned in an announcement the Bolivians included households and youngsters.

It mentioned the “passengers appeared to have proper documentation upon boarding in Brazil. We have been informed by the authorities that the visas are not valid for entry into the Schengen area. As a result, passengers have not been able to disembark in Barcelona, which was their final destination.”

The firm mentioned the ship remained in port whereas it really works with authorities to facilitate the method.

The Schengen space is an ID-check-free journey zone comprising some 30 European Union international locations.

Earlier this week it was confirmed two international locations have partially joined Europe’s ID-check-free journey zone, marking a brand new step in the 2 international locations’ integration with the European Union.

After years of negotiations by Romania and Bulgaria to affix the Schengen space, there may be now free entry for vacationers arriving by air or sea. Land border checks will stay in place, nonetheless, on account of opposition primarily from Austria, which has lengthy blocked their bid over unlawful migration issues.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the change as a “huge success for both countries” and a “historic moment” for what’s the world’s largest free journey zone.