Royal Caribbean has freed up one of its luxury cruise ships to house first responders working at the site of the Florida condo building collapse.
The Explorer of the Seas, part of the cruise line’s vast fleet, already has at least 80 crew members from the site of Champlain Towers South on board — and can accommodate up to 600, including search dogs, the company said.
“This tragedy in our backyard is heart-wrenching,” Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain told WTVJ-TV. “Our thoughts are with the families and our whole community, and our thanks go out to the hardworking search and rescue teams.”
“Providing them shelter is a small way to show our support,” Fain said.
The Voyager-class ocean liner arrived in Miami on Thursday and will remain docked there for a few weeks, the station said.
The ship showed up at an opportune time — rescue workers are arriving from around the country on the eve of July 4th weekend, when area hotels are largely booked.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that the ship is already paying dividends, and will accommodate hundreds of newly arrived urban search and rescue workers.
“More than 440 USAR members from New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and Indiana are on the ground in Surfside to help supplement the search and rescue efforts,” DeSantis said on Twitter. “Florida is grateful for the outpouring of support.”
“Thanks to @RoyalCaribbean for providing accomodations!”
Royal Caribbean worked with the US Coast Guard, US Customs and Border Protection, Miami-Dade County Port Authority and Port Miami to make the ship available, according to the company’s blog.
Hundreds of workers, including teams from as far off as Israel, have been sifting through the rubble in Surfside since the building collapsed early on June 24.
Officials said Friday that at least 20 have been confirmed dead and 128 others remain missing in the rubble, prompting more crews to flood to the scene.
“This incredible act of kindness from our friends at Royal Caribbean is deeply appreciated by our entire community,” Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levine Cava said.
“Over the past nine days, our first responders have been working under dangerous, stressful conditions to move our search and rescue mission forward through so many unprecedented challenges,” she said.
“These accommodations will provide them with a much-needed respite and opportunity to rest and recharge for their next shift, and yet another example of how our local and global community has come together in the aftermath of tragedy,” Cava said.
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