The passenger ferry Reina del Mediterrani, which returned to Almaria Vella on Tuesday evening after a seven-day coastal circuit, was placed under precautionary quarantine yesterday afternoon following the presentation of three passengers with acute febrile illness. The vessel carried three hundred and forty souls, passengers and crew together, and had begun debarkation when the Public Health Directorate's order reached the harbourmaster.

Dr. Sònia Ferrer, speaking for the Directorate, told this paper that contact-tracing protocols had been activated within the hour and that the three cases appeared clustered in a single dining section of the ship. 'There is no cause for public alarm at this stage,' she said, 'but we are taking every precaution while laboratory results are pending.'

The ferry's company, whose offices sit on the Moll Vell, has cooperated with the order and is housing the affected passengers aboard under medical supervision. The remainder have been asked to remain reachable for the next seventy-two hours. Cabin staff, several of whom have served the line for a decade or longer, were described by one dockside witness as composed.

The Directorate expects preliminary laboratory findings by tomorrow evening. Until then, the Reina del Mediterrani will keep her berth, and the Vella will watch her as it has always watched the ships that do not leave on time.