CRUISE SHIP AS TEMPORARY HOUSING

Posted on 02/26/2016

US Shipmanagers provides low cost (floating) housing solutions for governmental, institutional and corporate situations.  The company has been approached by the Swedish government to have the Ocean Gala liner utilized as accommodation for migrants that are in immediate need of housing.

"The provider has to find a homeport and the vessel has to be appraised" to make sure it meets safety and comfort standards, Swedish migration agency spokesman Alexandra Elias said.While details have yet to be confirmed, the agency will pay $72 per person to US Shipmanagers.The use of the ship will provide for 1,800 refugees but that is only a fraction of Sweden’s requirements. "The situation is still tense. In 2016 we will need an extra 20,000-30,000 places," said Elias.Five thousand refugees will have to vacate the campsites and holiday villages when tourist season starts in the spring. Other asylum seekers are housed in churches, mosques, gymnasiums and evacuation centres run by civil security authorities.The anchoring location for the Ocean Gala has yet to be announced.  The charter company is interested in Haernoesand (400 km north of Stockholm) but they are getting push-back from local authorities.