Seventy crew aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship have been infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
They were among 1,004 crew trapped aboard the vessel since the ship was first quarantined by Japanese health authorities on 3 February 2020.
Meanwhile, all remaining crew, predominately Filipino and Indonesian, are to begin the process to be repatriated home in the coming days.
On Friday, Princess Cruises gave approval for all 1,004 crew from more than 40 nations, to leave the vessel following pressure from the ITF and FIT-CISL, the ITF-affiliated Italian seafarers union, that holds the collective agreement onboard the Diamond Princess.
ITF general secretary Steve Cotton is also said to have written to the Japanese minister for foreign affairs last week on behalf of affiliated unions calling for crew to be repatriated as more and more passengers were allowed to leave the ship.
Details surrounding repatriation procedures, as well as quarantine requirements for crew who choose to remain on the ship will be confirmed, the ITF said.
Minimum manning of the ship will be guaranteed, with a voluntary team of new seafarers ready to go on board, according to Francesco di Fiore, ITF inspectorate co-ordinator Italy.
“A new master is already in Yokohama waiting in the hotel for instructions,” he added.
The ITF said the move comes after concerns from experts that the virus was spreading on board the vessel.
“It was a mistake to insist on keeping all the crew on board when it was only necessary to have a safe manning group onboard” said di Fiore.
“But the crew remained calm and were proud to stay, do their job and be part of the story.”
