Pan Europe: 11 Covid-19 cases confirmed on LNG tanker off Gladstone Port

Queensland Health has confirmed a number of cases on board a ship anchored off Gladstone. Here’s what you need to know.

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles has confirmed 11 cases on a ship which is docked in Gladstone waters.

COVID-19 has found its way into the Gladstone region, Queensland Health confirmed Thursday morning.

Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles has confirmed 11 cases on a ship which is docked in Gladstone waters.

"Eleven cases are overseas acquired and are on board a ship, the Pan Europe tanker, which is an LNG tanker, anchored off Gladstone,” Mr Miles said.

"Most of the crew are vaccinated and will be cared for on board unless their condition changes."

According to Marine Traffic data, the Pan Europe was built in 2018 and is sailing under the flag of Hong Kong.

It has a carrying capacity of 174,000 cubic meters of liquid gas and its current draught is reported to be 9.4 meters.

Its length overall is 290 meters and width is 46.99 meters.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said most of the people on the ship were vaccinated, so their symptoms were mild.

“At the moment we have 65 people out of our 122 active cases in hospital. Now there’s that new group on that ship off Gladstone and at the moment we will be managing them on that ship because most of them are actually vaccinated and so they’ve got minimal symptoms,” she said.

“We believe we can safely manage them on board that ship. Any that do need health care we’ll be removing from the ship and we’ve got some beds lined up in Sunshine Coast University Hospital if they are needed for those crew.“

Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the 11 cases posed no immediate risk to the region.

“I have just been talking to my department, they’ve had a briefing this morning and there’s a crew on-board at Fairway Buoy in Gladstone, all crew have stayed on board and Queensland Health have travelled to them,” he said.

“They haven’t been into Gladstone, been tested on-board and 11 out of the 26 have come back as positive and Queensland Health will continue to monitor them there.

“The chief health officer has talked to the mayor today as well and said if any crew needed to come off the ship due to their illness they will be transported straight down to the Sunshine Coast Hospital Covid ward.

“No fear for the Gladstone community, the ship is out at the Fairway Buoy, it’s anchored up and not coming into Gladstone’s port.

“It is just being held here until there until they can get it control on deck and if there are any issues they will be flown straight to the Sunshine Coast Hospital.”

Anthony Heintze, general manager of the Gladstone Seafarers Centre said he had only just become aware of the cases a short time ago.

“So I need to analyse what the crew on board the infected ship need,” he said.

“We’ll be looking at what services we can provide to that ship while it is isolated in Gladstone waters.”