More bulk carrier crew test positive to COVID-19 in WA

A coronavirus outbreak on a bulk carrier anchored off the WA coast has worsened, with 17 out of 21 crew now diagnosed with the illness.

More Filipino crew from a bulk carrier anchored off WA’s Pilbara coast have been diagnosed with coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases from the vessel to 17.

The Patricia Oldendorff was set to collect a shipment of manganese ore from Port Hedland but some of the 21 crew members reported they were suffering respiratory illness.

Ten of the positive cases are onshore in hotel quarantine while the other seven remain aboard as part of the essential crew.

“The four remaining crew have, at this stage, tested negative,” the Department of Health said on Monday.

“Planning continues with the vessel operator, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Pilbara Ports Authority regarding the safety of the vessel and potential replacement crew – if required.”

The department is at pains to reassure the Port Hedland community that every safety measure is being put in place to protect them, saying it has experience managing outbreaks on vessels.

Earlier this year, the livestock ship Al Kuwait was stranded at Fremantle port for more than three weeks as 21 of its 48 multinational crew tested positive for the virus.

The department said the Patricia Oldendorff was being cleaned daily, all crew members were in good spirits, had been able to contact family at home and had been provided access to culturally appropriate food by a Filipino chef.

The additional cases will be included in Tuesday’s total case numbers.