Following the COVID-19 pandemic situation, nine positive cases were found onboard the bunker tanker “NewOcean 6″, as Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore informed.
Specifically MPA identified the first coronavirus positive case of an Indonesian crewmember.
As explained, this crew member was tested negative on 1, 16 and 17 December. Therefore, he started working onboard NewOcean 6 after his test result on 17 December returned negative.
Although, on 30 December 2020, his latest test found him positive for COVID-19 infection.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has strict procedures on all crew members arriving from overseas to work onboard harbourcraft. They have to go through 14 days of quarantine and must be tested negative for COVID-19 infection at the start and end of their quarantine period in their home country. Upon arrival in Singapore, they are tested again and need to self-isolate in a room until their test results are known before embarking on the harbourcraft.
On 3 January, seven other Indonesian crew members and a Singaporean crew member were reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to have tested coronavirus positive.
The foreign crew members onboard the bunker tanker did not disembark prior to being tested positive. The Singapore crew member is a cargo officer who certifies bunker delivery onboard the vessel.
In light of the above, the NewOcean 6, which is operated by Palmstone Tankers & Trdg Pte Ltd, has been quarantined in the Port of Singapore and will cease all operations until further notice.
Concluding, bunker tankers are a type of harbourcraft that operate in the Port of Singapore and provide essential marine services such as refuelling ships calling at Singapore.