INTERNATIONAL bulk carrier MV Spirit of Ho-Ping has docked in Newcastle, after two weeks off the coast following a COVID-19 outbreak among its crew.
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The Newcastle Herald reported earlier this month that more than half of the vessel's 21-person crew had COVID-19 and only one person was vaccinated.
NSW Health sent a high-trained retrieval medicine specialist to the ship on September 15 to assess the crew. None required medical transfer.
A NSW Health spokesperson said on Monday the captain had reported illness amongst crew before entering the port and the crew was managed off-shore until none were considered infectious.
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"The MV Spirit of Ho-Ping presents no COVID-19 risk to the community of Newcastle," the spokesperson said.
"All crew members on board... have completed their mandatory isolation off shore after they tested positive or showed evidence of past infection of COVID-19.
"None of the crew required medical transfer from the vessel during their isolation period while awaiting clearance."
The spokesperson said the crew would not leave the ship while it was in Newcastle.
"Hunter New England Health has provided medical care and public health advice to those on board, and liaised with the Port Authority of NSW, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, NSW Police, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment and other agencies."
The vessel was scheduled to dock at Port Waratah Coal Services' Kooragang 5 terminal at 2.30pm on Monday for loading.
It is scheduled to depart for Ho-Ping in Taiwan at 7.30am on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) said no PWCS staff would go on board.
The Panama-flagged ship sailed from the Philippines on August 16.
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Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
