A Japanese bulker crew is being tested for Covid-19 after coming into contact with a port worker in New Zealand who was later confirmed to have the virus.
The seafarers on Inui Global Logistics' 31,900-dwt Ken Rei (built 2006) are considered close contacts of the Auckland man, who boarded the ship at Port Taranaki last Wednesday. He became the country's first coronavirus case in three weeks.
Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the man began to develop symptoms on Friday when back in Auckland.
The crew will now be isolated and tested. The bulker had left Port Taranaki on Friday evening, bound for Napier.
Bloomfield said the seafarers that the man worked with on the vessel were using personal protective equipment. He added that the timing of the symptoms suggests the worker was not infected at Port Taranaki.
But there were conflicting reports about the next move for the bulker.
"No one on board is symptomatic at this time and no plans have been made to have workers quarantine on board the vessel," Bloomfield said on Sunday, according to New Zealand's 1 News website.
No entry?
But a Napier Port spokesperson said the vessel would not be docking.
"It's at anchor for the time being and it is not coming into Napier Port," the spokesperson said.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson told the website: "They [the crew] can’t come into port without clearance from local public health. They are in quarantine on board the ship."
AIS data showed the Ken Rei anchored off Napier on Monday.
The ministry refused to say whether the crew would continue to quarantine on board, if the ship would be allowed into Napier or if it would be re-routed.
Technical manager MMS has been contacted for further information.
The port worker’s positive test highlighted the need to limit the number of international ports in New Zealand and implement domestic coastal shipping, the Maritime Union of New Zealand said.
Cabotage protection needed?
Union national secretary Joe Fleetwood added: "Right now, nearly all of our domestic sea freight is carried by international ships running international crews who are not covered by New Zealand law.
"It means that every single one of our ports is an international border point, and it puts our members and the public at risk."
Fleetwood argued for the introduction of cabotage restrictions.
He told the Scoop website that two ports on the North Island and two on the South Island should be made secure and safe points of entry for goods.
Fleetwood said: "All other cargo should be shifted by New Zealand-flagged vessels that operate under our law and are staffed by people from our team of five million. This kind of arrangement is standard for many of our trading partners and is how we used to do things before the deregulation of the industry in the 1990s."
Talks have been taking place with the government, and Fleetwood said the ruling Labour Party — re-elected last week — and the Green party agree that the New Zealand-flagged coastal shipping fleet needs strengthening.
