Bergen-based Utkilen has confirmed that an Indian seafarer has died from Covid-19 and four other crew member tested positive for the virus after an outbreak on the 19,000-dwt Straum (built 2010).
The Straum was at anchor off Trinidad and Tobago awaiting cargo at the time of the outbreak.
The tanker is technically managed by Singapore's Diamond Ship Management and has mainly Indian crew. It is commercially managed by Bergen-based Hansa Tankers.
The company said the four crew members who tested positive are recovering well.
Late last year, another Utkilen tanker — the 16,000-dwt Finnstraum (built 1999) — was hit by a Covid-19 outbreak, with one crew member displaying mild symptoms.
The Finnstraum has Norwegian, Eastern European and a Filipino crew. The vessel was in ballast condition near Molde in Norway at the time of the outbreak.
Utkilen owns and operates more than 20 tankers. Last year, it sold the 8,000-dwt Havstraum, 6,500-dwt Listraum (both built 1991) and 6,500-dwt Solstraum (built 1990) in off-market deals as part its fleet-renewal process, and has taken in newbuildings to replenish the fleet.
Siri-Anne Mjaatvedt was appointed chief executive of Utkilen in 2018. The company is controlled by Ove Utkilen.
