Eight crew members from cargo ship off WA test positive to COVID as SA travel advice updated

All eight symptomatic crew members from a cargo ship docked at Fremantle in Western Austalia have tested positive for COVID-19. 

The WA Department of Health said in a statement the remaining six crew on board the BBC California, who were not symptomatic, would now be tested for COVID-19 this afternoon. 

They will also receive serology tests to see if they have previously had the virus.

The BBC California, which departed Indonesia last week, has 14 crew members aboard.

The ship will remain berthed at Fremantle Port for the time being, with all crew members remaining onboard.

Medical assistance will be provided to crew if required.

The department said pathology staff would conduct the swabbing and testing of the remaining six crew members in full PPE, and the process would be monitored by infection prevention and control staff. 

After testing, the crew will immediately return to the vessel.

The department said it was working closely with the ship’s captain, its shipping agent and owner, WA Police, Fremantle Ports and Commonwealth agencies to manage the ship and its crew.

Crew had been unwell for days

The vessel was originally scheduled to berth at Kwinana where it was to be loaded with ammonium nitrate, before heading to the port of Newcastle, in New South Wales. 

WA Premier Mark McGowan said some of the crew members had been unwell since July 12.

The ship’s captain had requested the crew be medically assessed given their symptoms.

Mr McGowan said earlier authorities were assuming the crew would test positive, “so every precaution will be taken.”

“We need to do everything we can to reduce the risk to our community,” he told reporters.

“I would have liked this ship to return immediately to Indonesia, but this wasn’t possible considering the number of ill crew members on board.”

Sick crew in ‘relatively good’ shape

In a statement, a spokesman vessel manager Liberty Blue Shipmanagement said the eight crew members were “in a relatively good condition”.

“Immediately after the crew had developed symptoms of Covid-19, Liberty Blue Shipmanagement have notified the Australian authorities and all other relevant parties,” the statement said. 

“The company is currently working with the authorities to provide the best care for the eight seafarers who remain on board the vessel isolated from the other six crew members. 

“All WHO procedures continue to be closely followed by those on board.

“The families of the crew have been informed and are being updated by the company at regular intervals and the situation has been reported to the relevant P&I club and flag state. 

“Liberty Blue Shipmanagement will continue to cooperate with the local authorities, taking extra precautions to avoid any impact of Covid-19 on the community in Western Australia and to protect the health of its seafarers on board BBC California.”

Earlier this month a bulk carrier was turned away from WA after a crew member in his 50s was brought ashore and taken to hospital with COVID-19.

Mr McGowan said that crew member was still in hospital, and is currently the only COVID patient in hospital in WA.

Advice changed for travellers from SA

Meanwhile, authorities have issued updated advice for travellers who recently returned from South Australia, after a public health alert was issued for parts of SA.

The South Australian Department of Health has released a list of sites associated with a positive case of COVID-19. 

WA’s Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson said effective immediately, anyone who had been at any of the the listed venues at the specified times needed to self-quarantine for 14 days and be tested within 48 hours and at day 12.

“Anyone from the Adelaide area who did not visit the venues and arrived after 8 July 2021 should get tested if they develop any symptoms that may be related to COVID-19,” he said.

“This advice is in addition to previous advice issued relating to the South Australian visits by the infected NSW removalists.

“Given what we’re seeing in other states, this action is to prevent any spread of the virus or community transmission in Western Australia.

“As always, we will continue to monitor the situation very closely and issue updated health advice if required.”

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