A vessel operated by Uni-Tankers will come out of quarantine in Algeciras this week after all of its crew members were cleared of the coronavirus, the Danish company said.
Last week, the Spanish authorities had ordered the operator's 5,700-dwt Samus Swan (built 2009) to be quarantined for 14 days at the port after two seafarers aboard tested positive for Covid-19.
They were then sent to a local hospital and tested negative in two subsequent check-ups.
Along with a third crew member who stayed in hospital as a precaution, the three have been taken to a hotel awaiting repatriation to their home countries, according to an e-mailed statement from Uni-Tankers.
On Sunday, a specialised company began sanitising the Samus Swan in Algeciras.
“Authorities have given permission for the vessel to proceed its voyage once cleaning has finished,” said the Middelfart-based operator, wholly owned by Torben Ostergaard-Nielsen’s United Shipping & Trading Co.
“After completing minor, planned maintenance Uni-Tankers expects the ship to depart in the first part of the new week.”
TradeWinds has approached the Algeciras port authorities for further comments.
The chemical tanker was ballasting from Nigeria to Algeciras and Gibraltar in early July as the 13 Filipino and East European seafarers aboard were scheduled for a crew change.
Four Filipino crew members disembarked in Gibraltar for immigration reasons. They tested negative for Covid-19 but were isolated as a precaution before their repatriation.
The remaining nine crew members took tests before entering Algeciras and the results showed two were positive.
All of the mariners have been cleared of infections now and are waiting to be repatriated. A relief crew has arrived in Spain.
“Uni-Tankers would like to express their gratitude that all its seafarers are now in a good health condition and ready to be reunited with their families at home,” the company statement said.
“The company would also like to thank the Spanish authorities and medical health services for their professional support and care during this difficult period.”
