Sven Lindblad, the CEO of Lindblad Expeditions, has said that he is confident the company will operate some cruises in 2020.

A combination of the company operating small ships and remote itineraries that call at uninhabited (or sparsely populated) destinations could mean they are back operating before many of the bigger lines.

The company has also given back $6.6 million in US state aid.

Lindblad added that the ability to regularly test crew and all embarking guests was essential, reported Seatrade, describing it as the “single issue…needed to reactivate”.