The COVID-19 outbreak on a bulk carrier off Western Australia’s Pilbara coast highlights the need for government action to address the ongoing threat the virus poses to Australia’s maritime supply chains, according to the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
“As an island nation, Australia is reliant on shipping to transport our exports to the world and maintain supplies of essential goods,” Paddy Crumlin, MUA National Secretary, says.
Two members of the MV Aquagenie, which was chartered by Rio Tinto to carry iron ore to China, tested positive for COVID. The Aquagenie was docked off the coast from March 28 until April 17. It has since set sail again for Manila after evacuation of the positive cases.
The MUA says the Federal Government needs to take urgent steps to improve crew change arrangements, implement testing arrangements for all seafarers on international vessels, and ensure seafarers have priority access to COVID vaccines.
“This COVID outbreak on a ship undertaking Australian trade highlights the need for the Federal Government to take immediate steps to secure the nation’s supply chains by addressing deficiencies in quarantine and crew change arrangements,” says Paddy. “Among these steps should be the provision of COVID vaccines to international seafarers, along with advocacy in global forums to prioritise vaccination for all seafarers around the world.”
Paddy says that the government needs to address crew change procedures in light of border closures: “By implementing best-practice quarantine arrangements, Australia could facilitate the safe replacement of maritime crews, ensuring the seafarers joining the vessels that carry Australia’s goods are COVID-free.
“The Federal Government should also introduce mandatory COVID testing for all seafarers arriving on international vessels, ensuring positive cases are identified, proper medical care is provided, and the risk of transmission to Australian workers is reduced,” Paddy adds.
Paddy says that the current system places the burden of crew changes largely in COVID-hotspots like the Philippines, posing a danger to workers and compromising Australia’s supply chain and economic security.
He suggests major exporters should be looking to utilise Australian seafarers to reduce the threat posed by COVID to their supply chains: “A simple step to secure their supply chains would be to once again crew their vessels with highly-skilled Australian seafarers, which would ensure they remained COVID free and commodity exports could reliably continue.”