AUSTRALIA – Maritime union representatives are up in arms at what they claim are blatant breaches of the anti-virus precautions guidelines prescribed by the Federal government. The argument arises as three more container ships arriving from Asian ports are scheduled to discharge with no quarantine measures in force.

Singapore-flagged Kota Haru, which departed Hong Kong on March 25, will dock in Darwin tomorrow morning (April 3) after just eight days at sea. The Cyprus-flagged Antung is also due to arrive on Friday after visiting Indonesia on March 28 and East Timor on April 1. The Liberia-flagged Anl Dili Trader, which departed Singapore on March 25, is due to dock on Saturday.

The MUA says commercial vessels continue to dock in Australian ports without crew members undertaking 14 days isolation, as is required by all other travellers, despite clear Covid-19 guidelines to the maritime industry from the Health Department that all vessels should undertake it if arriving from another country. Whilst understanding the crucial role played by its members in maintaining supply chains the MUA says it will not stand by while foreign vessels were allowed to breach essential measures aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 in the community. National Secretary Paddy Crumlin said:

“It is outrageous that at a time when people are being told to stay in their homes, to not even take their kids to the park that the Australian Government is continuing to allow foreign vessels to unload in our ports without undertaking a 14 day quarantine period. Wharfies are simply demanding that the Health Department’s guidelines be enforced to prevent the spread of coronavirus on the waterfront, which means ensuring all vessels undertake a 14 day isolation period after leaving their last foreign port before docking in Australia.

MUA Northern Territory Deputy Branch Secretary, and National Indigenous Officer, Thomas Mayor raised the spectre of how serious an outbreak of coronavirus might prove if it enters the region which houses a large population of indigenous people, saying:

“The Australian and Territory Governments should be doing everything possible to prevent the foreseeable risk of coronavirus arriving on commercial vessels, including through the enforcement of strict 14-day quarantine periods, and proactive testing of crew members on international vessels before work commences on them. This should be coupled with measures on the wharves that protect local workers, including physical distancing measures, strong hygiene, cleaning, and appropriate personal protective equipment.”

The isolation period is for 14 days since anyone on the vessel was last in an international port. Time at sea counts towards the 14 days of self-isolation if no illness has been reported on-board. Crew signing off commercial vessels that have spent greater than 14 days at sea, with no known illness on-board, do not need to self-isolate on arrival.

Providing no alternate advice has been given, crew who are not ill can travel domestically to reach their accommodation within Australia to complete their self-isolation period. For isolation period concessions and precautions for maritime crew, they are advised to refer to advice from the Australian Border Force.

Source:handyshippingguide

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