Fred Olsen ‘extremely disappointed’ with appeal court ruling
Fred Olsen will be forced to compensate 16 British cruise passengers who fell ill onboard a cruise in 2011 after losing its appeal against the original court ruling.
The passengers were struck down with the ‘winter vomiting bug’ norovirus during a cruise to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Iberian Peninsula onboard Boudicca in March and April 2011.
The Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by Fred Olsen that had claimed it was not responsible for the outbreak.
Ina statement, the cruise line said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ by the Court’s decision.
It added: “Fred. Olsen believes that it made every reasonable effort, in accordance with its approved ‘Norovirus Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan’, to prevent and contain the virus on board Boudicca.
"In the original ruling, the Judge deemed Fred. Olsen’s ‘Norovirus Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan’ to be ‘an appropriate plan consistent with authoritative advice and with industry standards’.
“Fred. Olsen considers outbreak prevention to be of the utmost importance, and ensures that each and every member of its crew is fully conversant with the strict requirements of the Company’s ‘Norovirus Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan’.
“Fred. Olsen guests are all made aware of the need to maintain the highest standards of personal hygiene at all times and are educated regularly as to how to prevent the outbreak and spread of the virus on board.”
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