Amid the 2022 global pandemic, NCL confronted an unprecedented challenge: airlifting 1,400 live alpacas from Chile to Qingdao, China. This was no routine shipment but a battle against time, viruses, and regulations.

Live animal imports already involve complex procedures, but pandemic-driven quarantine standards intensified. Each alpaca required flawless health certificates, vaccination records, and origin reports—any lapse risked rejection or destruction.

NCL assembled a global taskforce, coordinating with customs and agricultural agencies in both countries to ensure compliance. For pandemic safety, they implemented a three-stage disinfection protocol: pre-shipment isolation, full-body sanitization, and sterile container treatment. Every step demanded extreme caution.

Ultimately, all alpacas cleared strict quarantine. Yet the team’s victory remained incomplete—a new battle unfolded within the confined holds of Boeing 777s.