TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Minister of Transport Wang Kuo-tsai (王國材) revealed on Monday (Dec. 13) that the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has approved a plan for the cruise vessel Explorer Dream (探索夢號) to resume voyages.

Responding to the news, Explorer Dream’s operators said the vessel will begin island-hopping tours next month, per a Liberty Times report. Wang added that Wang Bisheng (王必勝), director of the Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will assist the cruise industry with implementing disease prevention measures.

The Explorer Dream has been sitting idly in Keelung Harbor for much of this year, unable to leave port without the required permission from the CECC. The company burns through NT$120 million (US$4.33 million) each month it stays tied up in the harbor, according to Legislator Chiu Chenyuan (邱臣遠).

Chiu says the Explorer Dream has been based in Taiwan for two decades. He hopes the Ministry of Transportation will do what it can to help the cruise industry make a fresh start next year.