Footage shows wild party scenes on Ruby Princess night before it controversially docked

Video footage taken on board the now infamous Ruby Princess cruise ship shows a wild party the night before the coronavirus-riddled cruise ship docked in Sydney.

The footage obtained by 7News shows staff members dancing in a conga line, while passengers enjoy the festivities on March 18.

The moment kitchen staff can be seen celebrating with passengers occurred after doctors on board had reported sickness and suspected coronavirus cases on the ship, 7News reported.

The celebrations took place on the same day a crew member made a 17-minute long triple-0 call to NSW Ambulance.

“There were a number of phone calls between Ambulance, New South Wales Police and the New South Wales Port Authority,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said on April 5, when it was announced Police would head up an investigation into the Ruby Princess.

At that press conference, Comm Fuller said there were “many unanswered questions” surrounding the now-scrutinised docking of the vessel and said a “criminal or coronial investigation” would need to be conducted.

Homicide detectives are in possession of the footage of the celebration taken on March 18, according to 7News.

Of the 63 COVID-19 deaths in Australia, 19 were passengers on the Ruby Princess.

The cruise ship is now sitting at Port Kembla in the state’s Illawarra region, and according to the most recent release from NSW Health, 149 crew members still on board have now tested positive for coronavirus and 13 crew members are being treated at NSW Health facilities.

The docking of the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney on March 19 caused widespread outrage, when passengers were allowed to disembark from the vessel.

Not only are NSW Police going to examine how cruise line operator Carnival Australia was permitted to disembark passengers in Sydney, but also the actions of the port authority, ambulance, police and NSW Health.

The investigation will determine whether national biosecurity laws and state laws were broken.

In addition to the police investigation, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a special commission of inquiry into the incident.

The state governments investigation will examine the ship's departure, arrival and the role of all relevant state and federal agencies, as well as cruise ship operator Carnival Cruise and lead barrister Bret Walker SC has been granted unlimited powers.

All of the 19 deaths related to the Ruby Princess have been referred to the state coroner and it is yet to be determined whether there will be a coronial inquest.

Even when Australia does open international borders again, Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham hinted cruise ships would be the last form of travel to be reactivated.

“Cruise travel, you would expect to be sitting right towards the end if not the very last thing that is reactivated again, given the difficulties Australia has faced with the cruise sector,” he told the ABC.

with AAP

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