Coronavirus: Wharfies refuse to unload medical supplies from Chinese ship
More than 60 Melbourne wharfies have been stood down after refusing to unload a container carrying medical supplies from China.
More than 60 Melbourne wharfies have been stood down after refusing to unload a container vessel carrying medical supplies from China.
The Xin Da Lian docked at the DP World terminal at the Port of Melbourne on Tuesday night, after leaving Shanghai on March 17.
The Maritime Union of Australia said the vessel was in “in breach of the Federal Government’s 14-day coronavirus quarantine period” after visiting a Taiwanese port on March 19.
Wharfies said shaving off two days to the quarantine period was “a risk to workers and the community”.
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The union’s members refused to unload the vessel due to coronavirus risk concerns and were stood down.
But DP World Australia chief operating officer Andrew Adam said the ship was cleared to berth by the Australian Border Force.
“Any crew members aboard a vessel that has been to mainland China, must have been at sea for 14 days before they are allowed to dock in Australia,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The union is not allowed to unilaterally declare a vessel unsafe. They are not allowed to create their own set of rules.”
The company says it is following the strict rules including advice from the ABF on March 20, that crew on commercial vessels must wear personal protective equipment in public spaces on the ship while non-crew members are on-board.
The vessel is believed to be carrying toilet rolls, surgical masks, shoe coverings, chemicals for the manufacture of soap and detergent, surgical gowns, laboratory coats, hair nets, tinned food and white goods.
After 22 wharfies were stood down on Tuesday night, another 40 followed on Wednesday morning, DP World Australia said.
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Melbourne: Wharfies stood down after refusing to unload ship in breach of 14-day quarantine #COVID19Aus #ausunions https://t.co/raNAzEUWwd
— MUA (@MaritimeUnionAU) March 31, 2020
MUA national assistant secretary Warren Smith said it didn’t want to see a repeat of Sydney’s Ruby Princess cruise ship debacle.
“The largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in Australia – which has already claimed several lives and caused hundreds of illnesses – was the result of inadequate measures put in place for the arrival of ships,” he said in a statement.
“What’s the difference with this ship?” A large number of the coronavirus cases in NSW involved passengers who were on the Ruby Princess and disembarked on March 19.
The union has been demanding improvements to biosecurity measures at Australian ports since January.
The Australian Border Force has been contacted for comment.
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