Coronavirus has been ruled out in the death of the second officer of the 63,300-dwt Feng De Hai (built 2015) , according to an official Cosco Shipping Bulk statement. The surviving crew has also tested negative.
"At 1520 hours on 18 March Beijing time, unfortunately, Mr Wang, the second officer on board MV Feng De Hai of our company died on the way from Africa to Europe," Cosco Shipping Bulk press officer Huang Wenhan confirmed in a statement to TradeWinds.
"According to the death report issued by the doctor dated 28 March, the symptoms did not meet the diagnostic criteria for coronavirus disease .. and the specific cause of death hs to be confirmed after autopsy."
"From 17 January to 18 March, Mr Wang did not leave the ship, had no contact with persons with fever, and had no symptoms of Covid-19 such as cough and sputum."
The body of the second officer was removed from the ship this weekend while it was under harbourmaster's quarantine and Huang said arrangement have now been made to airlift his body to China.
The ultramax was later cleared to sail, transited the Bosphorus on 28 March, and now awaits a berth at Dneprobugsky in Ukraine. It is laden with cargo from Guinea.
TradeWinds reported on Monday on reports in Turkey that a Feng De Hai officer had died of coronavirus. A circular issued by an Istanbul port agent first reported that the deceased officer was the ship's master, but sources in China soon suggested that this was mistaken.
Some reports have suggested the second officer fell victim to malaria.
One Cosco Shipping Bulk official approached TradeWinds on condition of anonymity on Monday to say the ship had been given a clean bill of health. TradeWinds understands he was chosen as a contact person on behalf of the company's Guangzhou based dry bulk arm.
"The rest of the crew was negative," said the official, referring to results of a test for the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes the Covid-19 disease. "The other crew members were suffering no symptoms of illness - no fever and no cough."
Cosco Shipping Bulk's Huang later responded officially to requests for comment.
He underscored Cosco's compliance with health practices and regulations regarding coronavirus contagion control.
"MV Feng De Hai has strictly implemented relevant prevention and control measures," wrote Huang in the company statement to TradeWinds.
"The crew did not go on shore. The crew took daily temperature measurements. The remaining 24 crew members have normal body temperature and no fever. Before entering [the Ukrainian] port, Covid-19 were made to all 24 crew members on the ship and all results showed negative."
"MV Feng De Hai has commenced thorough disinfection and health protection work according to the regulation and offered psychological counselling to the crew on board. All crew have passed inspection and quarantine of the authorities."
