[ad_1]
ANDY JACKSON / Stuff
Port of Taranaki (file photo). The Yangtze Flourish crew were granted permission to go ashore under the belief that they had served the 14-day isolation period, says the DHB.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
A mistake made by Taranaki health officials has caused the crew of an overseas cargo ship to have permission to go ashore before completing the Covid-19 isolation protocols.
The error by the district health board meant that more than 20 sailors from the Yangtze Flower They were able to roam the streets of New Plymouth despite failing to comply with the required 14-day isolation period.
The ship left Malaysia with a shipment of palm kernels on November 6 and arrived in New Plymouth on November 25.
READ MORE:
* Covid-19 positive case worked in Port Taranaki and stayed in New Plymouth
* Covid-19 testing increases to fill data gap at Port Taranaki
* Coronavirus: Ships could have stricter shore permits after new Covid-19 cases
Crucially, an Australian pilot came on board to negotiate the Torres Strait on November 15, and the 14-day period should have started after this.
The captain told Taranaki authorities about the pilot, but it was overlooked.
Phoenix Shipping Managing Director Billy Preston was responsible for Yangtze Flower ‘s visit to Port Taranaki.
He said the error was detected by another center.
“The ship then requested permission to go ashore at their next port, which was to be in Napier, and the DHB in Hawke’s Bay noted that the ship was still within its 14 days when they had the Covid tests (in New Plymouth ), so it meant we had a lot of staff walking around town, even though they had been screened, they were still within their 14 days. “
Preston said he was losing faith in border controls at ports.
“Somehow you have a lack of trust in the people who actually make these decisions and the other thing is, I don’t think they really understand shipping.
“There are a lot of these guys who have been at sea for 12 months; they can’t go home, they can’t go ashore.
“The crew that left the Yangtze flower, that was the first time they were ashore in 12 months. “
Phoenix Shipping Manager Billy Preston handled the Yangtze Flourish’s visit to Port Taranaki.
The district health board declined to be interviewed, but in a statement initially said the crew had met isolation requirements.
“We can confirm that the entire ship’s crew had a negative test result on two occasions, and that all members had completed their 14-day administered isolation before being granted permission ashore.”
When challenged, the DHB changed its story.
“The ship’s crew was granted permission to go ashore under the belief that it met the criteria. However, after this, we discovered that a pilot had boarded the ship in the Torres Strait, which means that the calculation of the isolation period of 14 days was incorrect.
“Subsequently, Taranaki DHB organized a retest of the ship’s crew to ensure that the disease had not developed.”
Port Taranaki, Customs and Maritime NZ declined to be interviewed while pointing fingers at each other and at the district health board.
Craig Harrison is the national secretary of the Maritime Union representing workers and seafarers in the waterfront.
He said the error was a concern.
“It’s worrying. I think our border control has to do a lot more homework. For example, the ship’s registry will have details of when there’s a pilot on board and when they get off.
“And also ensure that the captain of the ships is very clear when they were in port for the last time and who was on board.”
Harrison was sure it would not be the last such mistake.
“We will also have initial problems. Even before we had Covid-19 we had problems with foreign ships reporting what was happening. So you know it will continue to happen.”
He had a certain sympathy for the Taranaki DHB.
“To the DHB, to be fair, they probably never had to deal with the shipping industry like they are doing now.”
Billy Preston, however, thought New Plymouth dodged a bullet.
“Thank goodness to the people of New Plymouth who were tested a second time and no one had Covid, otherwise it would have been a very unhappy city.”
The crew of the Yangtze Flower the locals closely monitored his land license in New Plymouth.
Concerned port workers prevented them from leaving their ship one day and called the police when they visited a supermarket another day.
In both cases, correctly, people thought he was breaking the isolation rules.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
