BY ANNISA ESSACK

04:05:2021

TimesLive has reported that an Indian cargo vessel docked at the Durban harbour has been quarantined after a crew member died, and 14 others have been taken for Covid-19 testing. It arrived on Sunday transporting rice.

The 14 of the crew have been isolated pending the results of Covid-19 testing. This comes as the Indian subcontinent has emerged as the global pandemic epicentre and reports more than 300,000 new Covid-19 cases a day. The B.1.617 variant primarily drives the latest cases and associated fatalities.

On Tuesday, port authorities were informed to halt all operations and interaction on the vessel. A senior port official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said at least 200 port employees had been working onboard the ship since Sunday evening.

A source at the SA Revenue Service’s customs division confirmed the information and said health officials from Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) were aware of the matter.

The bulk carrier, the name known to TimesLIVE but cannot be revealed at this stage as efforts to contact the owners, departed from India on April 18 and arrived in Durban on Sunday. TNPA and the National Health Department have been approached for comment.