Mitsui OSK Lines and Japan Marine United (JMU) have defended a decision to deliver a VLCC newbuilding from a shipyard battling to contain the spread of coronavirus among its workers.
The 312,000-dwt Daisen (built 2020) was delivered to MOL on 31 July from JMU's facility in Ariake, Japan.
As earlier reported by TradeWinds, the yard had stopped operations the day before because it was at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak in Kumamoto prefecture where it is located.
The shut down has recently been extended until the end of this week.
The brand new tanker is currently sailing to Singapore on its maiden voyage.
A JMU official said that although delivery took place just as the yard was closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19, all the necessary preparations had been completed several days before.
That enabled the ship to be delivered and sail as scheduled even through the yard was not in operation.
The ship’s crew had also been living on board the vessel and kept away from the shipyard prior to delivery.
“The ship safely sailed from Ariake,” a JMU official said.
MOL also said that it is confident that the Daisen's crew had been shielded from possible infection.
“We have confirmed all crew from VLCC Daisen tested negative of Covid-19 upon delivery from JMU Ariake,” a spokesman said.
“Thus, we believe the crew from the vessel was safeguarded from infection and are safely sailing towards Singapore.”
JMU had already put extensive measures in place prior to the outbreak to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Following the outbreak, it has been undergoing a widespread testing of its yard workers.
So far 551 workers have been tested with 80 testing positive for the disease and a further 163 test results yet to be confirmed.
Of the positive results, 50 workers were directly employed by JMU, 20 were trainees from Vietnam, one worked for a JMU group company and nine were suppliers.
The Daisen is listed as owned by Astral Shipping but is under the control of Tokyo-listed MOL.
The vessel is a malaccamax design intended to optimise cargo capacity for VLCCs trading to the Far East through the Malacca Strait. It has room for 35 crew.
The vessel has been equipped with state-of-the-art energy efficiency equipment and is also fitted with a scrubber.
