Maersk officials have confirmed that some of its seafarers onboard the 9,074 teu Gjertrud Maersk have come down with suspected coronavirus. The ship is currently at Ningbo, where it had been waiting to be phased into the Maersk network.
have come down with suspected coronavirus. The ship is currently at Ningbo, where it had been waiting to be phased into the Maersk network.“We can confirm that on 23 March 2020 a number of our seafarers onboard the container vessel Gjertrud Maersk have been suspected to have Covid-19,” a spokesperson for Maersk told Splash today.
The company is still awaiting the official report from authorities as well as the hospital.
As per Maersk’s established protocols the seafarers were isolated on the vessel when symptoms appeared. The ship was brought into Ningbo port three days after the symptoms were first detected.
It is very serious and upsetting news in the Shipping, from a “blue chip” Operator, but very much expected.
Apparently, in the comfort of the helpless crews “staying home”, ship managers and operators allowed “business as usual”.
“Assurances” to shippers. insurers, shareholders and to their praised “heroic” crews are proven pointless. “Measures taken”,”guidance given” and “risks mitigated”, all sum up to kindergarten “hands wash”.
The numerous crew members taken ill at one time, indicates a serious matter of delay, or lack of immediate response plan and contingency for soonest evacuation of all the crew members.
Vessels calling at contaminated States with Reps and “visitors” permitted to board at OPL to the Companies’ discretion (!!!) in view of Covid-19, is a major risk of crew infection potentially developed after sail with grim fear of inhumane death of crew without access to special care.
Information is enough for the Shipping Industry, the Regulators and the Insurers to draft ASAP Contingency and Response Plans to mitigate the two major risks of the DEMISE OF BOTH THE CREW LIFE and THE SEAWORTHINESS OF SHIPS by the inability of crew to operate, or the marine services to assist, or Class to attend onboard on CoC’s.
In fact the most important is the Parrot.
Parrots have no COVID 19.
Parrots will be the future crewmembers.
They do not need care.
And finnancial owners clap their hands.
Who take care of seafarers???