Havana, Mar 19 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez highlighted on Thursday the coordinated work of his country and the United Kingdom for the return of the passengers of the MS Braemar cruise ship, with five confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

In a message published on Twitter, the Foreign Affairs Minister said that the return concluded according to the plan, in the early hours of Thursday morning from the José Martí International Airport.

"The operation was carried out as planned, and the corresponding health and security measures were adopted—Cuba's best wishes to passengers and crew. Together against Covid-19," he wrote.

The MS Braemar docked at dawn on Wednesday at the port of Mariel, located 50 kilometers west of Havana, where the evacuation began.

The ship, belonging to the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines company, had been searching for port since late February with 682 passengers and 381 crew members on board after being rejected by several Caribbean ports.