Two more Mattina crew in managed isolation

Two further crew members who were aboard the Mattina container ship in Bluff have been transferred to managed isolation facilities onshore.

The Ministry of Health said yesterday that health and border authorities continue to manage the situation around the Mattina.

There are 15 positive Covid-19 cases among the 21 crew on the ship, which arrived at the port on July 18.

Two of the mariners, who had tested negative twice, were transported to a managed isolation facility in Christchurch on Friday.

The ministry confirmed last week genome sequencing had revealed the crew were carrying the highly infectious Delta variant of Covid-19.

Yesterday, the ministry said five crew in total, who have tested negative, had been transferred to managed isolation facilities onshore, the remainder remain isolated on board the vessel at this time, where they will maintain the minimum functions on the vessel.

The health and welfare of the crew are being overseen by Southern DHB’s Medical Officers of Health, who are working closely with maritime, port and other government agencies.

They will not have direct contact with any port staff while maintaining these functions, the ministry says.

‘‘These plans have been put in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the negative crew members at the same time as the health and wellbeing of members of the community.

‘‘In both instances, the public health risk to the community has been deemed low.’’

The ship’s captain, who has tested negative, was transported to nearby accommodation provided by the Southern District Health Board on Thursday night, so he could remain close to the ship in case of an emergency.

The Mattina arrived in New Zealand from Fremantle, near Perth in Australia, where it had spent two days from July 10.

The ship had originally sailed from Jakarta, Indonesia, but stopped in Singapore on July 2 where it picked up the two crew members who were the first to start showing symptoms. They had provided negative predeparture Covid-19 tests.

The Mattina is one of three in New Zealand with positive cases.

Sixteen of the 18 crew from the Spanish-flagged Playa Zahara fishing vessel tested positive for the virus before arriving at Lyttelton Port on July 18.

Six have the Delta variant. Thirteen were initially transferred to the quarantine wing of the Sudima Hotel near Christchurch Airport, but the Ministry of Health reported yesterday they were back on board.

One crew member, also recovered, had left the country to return home.

Further north, 10 crew members were now quarantined onboard the Viking Bay fishing boat, docked at Queens Wharf in Wellington.

They were transferred back from a managed isolation facility in Wellington once it had been deemed safe. Another 10 crew members remained in isolation onshore.