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Devon 'ghost ships' saying goodbye

Cruises can start from Monday

After more than a year anchored off Teignmouth and Torbay, cruise liners are beginning to leave Devon.

The 'ghost ships' have been a familiar sight off the South Devon coast, even initiating pleasure cruises out to see them up close when lockdown restrictions allowed.

But from Monday 17 May, England lockdown is lifted further and the ships can do what they're built to do, take holidaymakers away for a break. But they'll be limited to departing and returning to UK ports. They can go outside territorial waters, but they can only take residents from the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Each ship has been partially crewed during the stay along the English coast; sometimes with around a hundred members of staff. They regularly had to ply a route between Devon and Southampton to keep their engines functioning.

Last week, two people in a group of cruise staff flying in from India to work on the liners had to isolate after testing positive for covid.

This short video, captured by Paula Douglas from her home earlier in the ships' stay, shows six liners anchored on the Devon coast. And she names them! 

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