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Bug liner passengers to head home | Bug liner passengers to head home |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Passengers on the ship at the centre of a virus outbreak in the Cromarty Firth are to start their journey home. | Passengers on the ship at the centre of a virus outbreak in the Cromarty Firth are to start their journey home. |
The Marco Polo has been berthed at Invergordon since Monday, after nearly 400 people caught a vomiting bug. Seven people were taken to hospital. | |
Passengers have been offered the option of returning by rail from Inverness in a train chartered by the cruise operators Transocean Tours of Bremen. | Passengers have been offered the option of returning by rail from Inverness in a train chartered by the cruise operators Transocean Tours of Bremen. |
They can also stay on board the ship, which will set sail for Essex at noon. | They can also stay on board the ship, which will set sail for Essex at noon. |
It is thought that most of the 769 passengers will stay with the vessel, which is scheduled to arrive at Tilbury docks on Saturday. | It is thought that most of the 769 passengers will stay with the vessel, which is scheduled to arrive at Tilbury docks on Saturday. |
Some of the passengers raised a petition against plans to get them home by train, which is due to leave Inverness at 1000 BST, calling at York, Peterborough and London. | Some of the passengers raised a petition against plans to get them home by train, which is due to leave Inverness at 1000 BST, calling at York, Peterborough and London. |
Legal action | Legal action |
Helen Winchcombe, who is on board the ship, said: "It was such relief on the ship that we can go back to sea and not have to struggle on trains or buses." | Helen Winchcombe, who is on board the ship, said: "It was such relief on the ship that we can go back to sea and not have to struggle on trains or buses." |
NHS Highland said 400 people have been assessed after becoming unwell, and the health board is awaiting results of tests to confirm whether the outbreak is the winter vomiting bug norovirus. | NHS Highland said 400 people have been assessed after becoming unwell, and the health board is awaiting results of tests to confirm whether the outbreak is the winter vomiting bug norovirus. |
Six people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. | Six people have been taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. |
A post-mortem revealed that another passenger, 74-year-old Roy Sillett from Norwich, died from heart and lung disease on board the ship on Monday. | A post-mortem revealed that another passenger, 74-year-old Roy Sillett from Norwich, died from heart and lung disease on board the ship on Monday. |
The procurator fiscal would not say whether Mr Sillett was suffering from the vomiting bug. | The procurator fiscal would not say whether Mr Sillett was suffering from the vomiting bug. |
It emerged on Wednesday that the London Port Health Authority was considering taking legal action against the vessel. | It emerged on Wednesday that the London Port Health Authority was considering taking legal action against the vessel. |
The master of the ship has been accused of failing to notify the authority of illness aboard the vessel when it docked on the Thames at the weekend. | The master of the ship has been accused of failing to notify the authority of illness aboard the vessel when it docked on the Thames at the weekend. |
The ship's owners have made no comment about the claim but said on Tuesday that the Marco Polo had been given a "clean bill of health" at the port, before it sailed north on its tour of the British Isles. | The ship's owners have made no comment about the claim but said on Tuesday that the Marco Polo had been given a "clean bill of health" at the port, before it sailed north on its tour of the British Isles. |
Are you on board the Marco Polo? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Are you on board the Marco Polo? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |