Jamaican health authorities have sought to explain why the requested medical evacuation of a distressed pregnant woman aboard the Adventure of the Seas was not executed.

On Monday as the ship waited in Haitian waters for clearance to dock in Jamaica, the captain announced that there was a medical emergency and the ill crew member would be evacuated by helicopter.

The woman was eventually removed from the ship via an ambulance after the vessel docked in Falmouth around noon on Tuesday.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie said the condition of the woman allowed for her to dock.

As the ship moved into port on Tuesday afternoon, the ambulance was seen arriving on the property to remove the ill ship worker.