Carnival sticks with Portside terminal despite docking refusal

The Queensland Government called on emergency powers to force the operator to dock the ship.

Health minister and deputy premier Paul Lucas declared a public health emergency after the ship arrived.

A Multiplex spokeswoman said she was aware of Mr Lucas's action.

"The fact is that the ship came and went successfully and we cooperated with government," she said, refusing further comment.

Carnival chief executive Ann Sherry said the cruise group discovered Multiplex's position through its agent and she had then approached the Queensland Government.

"That terminal is our home port in Queensland and the Pacific Dawn will berth there year-round from the end of this year.

"The Queensland Government has made it very clear that Multiplex operate that port for the people of Queensland.

"That was the expectation and arrangement that the Queensland Government had come to with Multiplex and that would be our expectation as well."

Multiplex had not given Carnival a reason for its stance, Ms Sherry said.

Meanwhile, Pacific Dawn docked at Wharf 8 Darling Harbour in Sydney at about 0800 hrs today.

Three crew members on the ship had recovered after being treated for the human swine flu virus but remained in isolation, Carnival said.

Final tests had confirmed that no passengers onboard had contracted the virus.

The fully-booked ship would sail again on Thursday as planned.

Before that, the Pacific Dawn would "undergo a rigorous cleaning and sanitisation program with products known to be effective in fighting flu", Ms Sherry said.