Another day, another boat: Flotilla of boats escaping Covid may be headed for Darwin

It’s feared a flotilla of boats is preparing to set sail for Darwin as yachtsmen stranded in Covid ravaged Indonesia and Thailand prepare to flee to the NT.

• Residents fear surprise arrival of sailing boat from Covid-ravaged Indonesia

IT’S believed a flotilla of around 30 boats is preparing to set sail for Darwin as yachtsmen stranded in Covid ravaged Indonesia and Thailand prepare to flee to the safety of the Northern Territory.

The concerns come as yet another yacht tied up at the Cullen Bay public pontoon _ just two days after a solo yachtsman arrived from Indonesia.

At the same time it is understood that the yacht that suddenly tied up at Cullen Bay’s public pontoon two weeks ago with a lone skipper infected with Covid-19, had remained there unattended for more than 24 hours, with the Covid infected sailor leaving his boat and chatting to members of the public as passengers boarded a ferry to the Tiwi Islands.

As a result at least one Darwin resident has spent 14 days in quarantine, as well as the infected sailor.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” an angry Cullen Bay resident told the NT News after the latest boat to flee Indonesia, the Jenni D, arrived carrying two people.

“The chatter among boaties is that up to 30 boats are either already on their way or making plans to head to Darwin because of the serious situation to the north.

“The NT government is putting Darwin and the Tiwi Islands at risk. It talks about not wanting to put our most vulnerable people at risk, yet it allows boats from overseas to tie up across from the Tiwi Islands ferry.

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“It has to stop these boats tying up on a public pontoon.”

The Jenni D which arrived Wednesday morning, like Monday’s international arrival, has come from Indonesia.

Aboard are a middle aged Australian couple, who were met by a much larger welcoming committee than previous arrivals.

Along with Border Force officers, health officers and members of the Howard Springs quarantine team, there were workers with what appeared to be fumigation materials.

Border Force checked the couple’s travel documents and Covid tests were carried out. The boat will go into the Tipperary Waters marina on Thursday.