On Feb 19, 16 designated crew members from Chongqing and Wuhan rushed to Yichang. At the same time, staff members in Yichang carried out ship sanitation, equipment inspections, navigation declarations and supply preparations to ensure the ship's smooth operations.

Du Yongkui, safety director of the company's Chongqing branch, led a team to embark Blue Whale in Yichang to address ship safety, epidemic prevention and contagion control. All of the vessel's crew members are working hard to serve the soon-arriving medical workers.

The first medical team will board the Blue Whale on Tuesday.

According to the Hubei Port and Shipping Administration, the seven cruise ships will provide 1,469 beds in total for Wuhan medical teams.