The 102-passenger National Geographic Orion, a Lindblad Expeditions vessel, arrived in Ketchikan on May 24 - without any passengers. The ship carried 110 crew members to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. The Orion left Ketchikan on Monday. Acting Ketchikan Port and Harbors Director Mark Hilson said the idea to bring cruise ship crew to Ketchikan to receive their vaccine shots came up a couple of months ago in talks with the company's local agent. "They have a mitigation plan that keeps them in their own environment and from mixing with the community so they can get them safely vaccinated," said Ketchikan Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander Abner Hoage. The crew members remained on board during their stay. The Orion sailed to Ketchikan from Mexico, and headed back to Mexico when it left, said local agent Rick Erickson. Lindblad will start its Alaska cruises on June 25.
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