The crew of a Greek-managed product tanker have been in isolation in their cabins at the port of Antwerp after more than half contracted the coronavirus on board.
And there has also been an outbreak on a Maersk boxship in the US.
Fifteen out of the tanker's 26 seafarers are infected, according to Belgian authorities and a spokewoman for the vessel’s manager, Minerva Marine.
Two crew members were transferred to hospital but their condition is not serious. The rest are being “closely monitored and supported by the shipping company, in close collaboration with the Flemish health authorities,” an official at the port of Antwerp told TradeWinds.
The Minerva Oceania had been at sea since 3 June, when it last called at the port of Kali Limenes, on the Greek island of Crete. According to vessel trackers, its journey began in mid-May from Ras Laffan, Qatar.
The disease was not detected before a Filipino crew member developed fever on 20 June, a day after the laden vessel reached Antwerp.
The Minerva Oceania has been in quarantine since, moored alongside Leopold Dock and unable to discharge its cargo. The mandatory quarantine period lasts 14 days.
TradeWinds understands that a crew change was supposed to have taken place but now has been delayed due to the outbreak. The Minerva Oceania’s crew consists of 15 Filipinos, three Ukrainians and seven Greek officers.
An exact breakdown of the infected seafarers by nationality is not available.
The incidence becomes public after the Day of the Seafarer on 25 June, in which governments were urged to take action and formally recognise seafarers as key workers.
"Just like other key workers, seafarers are on the front line in this global fight. They deserve our thanks," IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim said. "But they also need — and deserve — quick and decisive humanitarian action from governments everywhere, not just during the pandemic, but at all times."
US cases
Several crew have also tested positive on the 4,658-teu Maersk Idaho (built 2000), which is anchored about 10 miles off Virginia Beach in the US.
The Virginian-Pilot newspaper said the owner is working on a plan to evacuate the vessel, clean it and bring new seafarers on board.
One of the all-American crew fell ill a few days before it arrived in Newark, New Jersey, from Europe on 19 June, according to Patrick McCaffery, Maersk Line's general counsel.
He was taken to a hospital there, where he tested positive for the coronavirus.
The crewman had not been ashore since boarding in mid-April.
On Sunday, the whole crew was tested, with nine others proving positive.
None had showed symptoms.
Russian ships held
In South Korea the country's Ministry of Health has ordered the quarantine for 14 days of all Russian ships calling at the country's ports after 17 of the 22 crew on reefer vessels tested positive for Covid-19.
Sixteen of the 21 crew onboard the reefer 144,790 cu ft Ice Stream (built 1987) tested positive after their vessel arrived in Busan from Russia on 24 June.
Korean press reports said the crew came into contact with around 100 port workers who have had to be quarantined.
They also mingled with the crew of a ship under the same ownership, the 153,970 cu ft Ice Crystal (built 1985) which had arrived earlier and one person from this vessel later tested positive.
All infected crew were sent to hospital for treatment.
Foreign crew on ships arriving in South Korea are not allowed to disembark and enter ports without permission and shipowners risk fines if they break these rules.
