TOPIC:

Cruise vessels been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent times. But that's only part of the story.
What happens with the thousands of cargo and tanker ships arriving from overseas?
A good example is the huge container vessel that departed from Korea late Feb or early Mar. It made 2 stops in China, stopped again in Singapore, then sailed into Melbourne and arrived either yesterday or the day before. Apparently a team of stevedores were to afraid to board when the vessel tied up. The stevedore company threatened them with the sack if they did not board. The stevodores were forced to board the container vessel. Also ships need a pilot to guide them into port, so the pilots health is at risk. The Pilot boat crew must now be nervous? Do crew members of these container/ tanker vessels go ashore when the vessel is in port? If so, that is not the best idea! Not suggesting all these ships have anything untoward on board. It just begs the question.
The cruise vessels are not the only problem.

My mate is the Harbour Master at Fremantle

Merchant seaman are not allowed to leave their ships, Pilots are boarding but in Bio Haz Gear, FPA/MUA are ensuring all members that board merchant vessels are Bio Haz Gear prepared, it is all well under control.

ARCANIA came into Port last night, unloaded two very sick COVID 19 passengers, they are due to move back to Gage Roads 14,00 hrs today,

They confirmed they have 7 sick COVID 19 passengers and now 2 Covid 19 Crew.

Apparently the German Gov is organizing charter planes to take them back on 29 March.

Very poor form by DP.
Sixty wharfies were stood down after they refused to start unloading a container ship that had sailed from China to Melbourne. The chinese cargo vessel docked Tuesday night. Departure from Shanghai on the 17th of March and stopped in Taiwan on the 19th. If the vessel is in breach of the 14 day quarantine timeframe, I think it raises concerns. The government has said vessels must have been at sea for the 14 days before docking, which means this one being early.

Bazza wrote: ARCANIA came into Port last night, unloaded two very sick COVID 19 passengers, they are due to move back to Gage Roads 14,00 hrs today,

They confirmed they have 7 sick COVID 19 passengers and now 2 Covid 19 Crew.

Apparently the German Gov is organizing charter planes to take them back on 29 March.

Artania is turning into a nightmare for the government and our health service’s. Maritime law is kicking in and we are soft. Other countries are saying don’t come here you won’t be allowed to berth.

I wonder what’s happening in the Pilbaras. Years ago the pilots boarded the ships out at anchorage, then we would go on board to get the loading plan from the surveyors. Once tied up the crew were free to roam in the town. You would think that this no longer happens.

One of the German Passengers kicked the bucket today.

Got to get the body back now, probably have to be cremated and sent back.

I heard that the German passengers that remained on board (those not showing symptoms) refused to take the German Govt sponsored flight home hid out on board and took their chances on the boat with the expectation that Aust would look after them. If true, I dont have much sympathy for them, would not let them disembark.

That doesn't sound right to me SS...why would they do that when they could be back at home in Germany? I heard they had non-Covid related health issues and couldn't fly which begs the question what happens when the ship eventually sails and they can't get back on board?

I think they feared going back to Europe which is a basket case and thought they would be better off in a state and country that's taken this thing seriously ... except for NSW of course. The truth of their health departments miss management is starting to surface but their premier falls back on the cowards response of ... "nows not the time to point the finger" FMD that cruise ship fiasco is responsible for over 10% of all australian cases.