Over the next week cruise ships will be heading into Port Kembla - including one that has been linked to a COVID-19 death.
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The ships have only crew on board and need to dock before complying with a federal government order that they leave the coast.
"All non-Australian flagged cruise ships currently in Australia [are to] to depart Australian waters as soon is reasonably practicable, unless the government has given permission for the ship to remain in Australia," the order states.
"Re-provision of essential supplies (fuel, food, supplies) to facilitate departure will be permitted."
A NSW Ports spokeswoman said cruise ships would be entering Port Kembla from Saturday "and over the coming week".
"This is being done at the request of the NSW Government so that cruise vessels will be able to leave Australia and head for overseas port locations," the spokeswoman said.
On Monday morning Radiance of the Seas entered Port Kembla, and was due to leave by 6am on Tuesday.
According to the Port Kembla shipping schedule, the Celebrity Solstice was expected to dock on Tuesday and spend 24 hours refuelling and replenishing its stores.
The Solstice has been linked to at least one COVID-19 death after it docked in Sydney on March 20 to let off passengers.
Ray Daniels, 73, died in Western Australia on March 26 after leaving the Solstice.
The ship has also been traced as the source of a number of other coronavirus infections.
The NSW Ports spokeswoman said the remaining crew on board the Celebrity Solstice will not be allowed off the ship when it docks in Port Kembla.
"Strict protocols and procedures will be in place at all times to ensure the safety and well-being of all workers involved and the wider community," she said.
The clearing of the cruise ships began on Saturday when the Carnival Spirit docked at the port to refuel.
Police officers were on the scene to oversee the refueling, as they now have oversight to ensure no-one gets off cruise ships docked in an Australian port.
"NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is signing an order that will mean no-one can leave these cruise ships, including Australian citizens, without the permission of the NSW Police Commissioner," said a spokesman from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's office.
"Allowances will be made to allow ships to reprovision, and cargo ships can continue to dock but no one could leave them without the Police Commissioner's express permission."
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
