‘Uncooperative’ superyacht launches Cairns COVID-19 scare

The captain of the luxury superyacht that sparked a Queensland COVID-19 scare has denied state government accusations he and his crew are not co-operating with authorities.

The superyacht Lady E at Cairns Marlin Marina. Picture: Stewart McLean

The captain of the luxury superyacht that sparked a Queensland COVID-19 scare has denied state government accusations he and his crew are not co-operating with authorities.

Two crew members of the 75m superyacht Lady E have tested positive to Covid-19 — a woman in her 20s on Thursday and a man in his 30s on Friday. The 19 other crew are being ­tested after the charter yacht docked in Cairns on Sunday.

Confirming the woman in her 20s had coronavirus and had been taken to Cairns hospital, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath on Thursday slammed the vessel for failing to co-operate with Queensland police, which has launched an ­investigation into the yacht. “We’re very disappointed with this superyacht,” Ms D’Ath said.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the yacht’s crew members had not been ­providing factual information to the police.

“It is a lesson to us all that ­superyachts, that have come from elsewhere in the world, no matter how long they might have been at sea, are a risk, and are required to quarantine,” Dr Young said.

The Queensland Police Service said 14 of the travellers had been ordered into 14-day hotel quarantine and six crew ­members remained on board for “marine safety” and were self-isolating.

But the Lady E’s captain James Kennedy claimed he was co-operating, after the super­yacht sailed from Male, in the Maldives, to Cairns.

“We are fully co-operating with the authorities and have followed all protocols before docking in Cairns and since arrival,” Mr Kennedy said in a statement issued by a Singapore-based public relations firm.

“Our team have quarantined, undertaken all necessary Covid-19 tests and stand ready to provide whatever details the authorities deem necessary. We remain ready to comply in full.”

Mr Kennedy said the yacht had not taken charter guests since September 2019. It was rebuilt and extended this year by UK-based luxury yacht builder Pendennis. The yacht can reportedly accommodate 12 guests and 21 crew.

A spokesman for the Lady E superyacht said both of the crew members who had tested positive had previously had COVID-19 and were now ­asymptomatic. He said they had quarantined for 14 days in the Maldives and then returned negative tests.

“Both are now subject to blood tests as the expectation is that antibodies from an old ­infection — and not a new infection — are the cause of the positive test results,” he said.

The yacht has six cabins and can be chartered from Burgess Yachts for $US595,000 a week. Its website says it has a beach club, 77-inch television, spa facilities, beauty salon, fully-equipped gym, an elevator, heated pool, and a water sports program.

Queensland recorded two new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, both overseas arrivals in hotel quarantine, with one from the Lady E yacht.