Crew member on cargo ship off Port Hedland tests positive to coronavirus

A male crew member of a second cargo ship anchored off Port Hedland has tested positive to coronavirus.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said the crew member on Vega Dream reported feeling unwell and has since been transferred to Hedland Hospital.

A “weak” positive result to a bedside test; results sent to Perth for verification

Mr Cook said the man had returned a “weak” positive result to a bedside test with those results being sent to Perth for verification.

“At this stage we do not have any reason to believe there is any cause for concern, either for the other crew members who are all reporting well or for the Port Hedland community,” he said.

Mr Cook could not confirm the man’s age or nationality but said the vessel had been at sea for about 16 days and had come from Shanghai via Manila.

He said the vessel berthed off Port Hedland on Friday night Oct 9

Mr Cook said no port crew members had boarded Vega Dream and health officials were yet to determine whether crew members on board would need to be tested.

My priority is to get this ship to sail today

“My priority is to get this ship to sail today, it carries important cargo for the Western Australian economy and we need to make sure that we take the opportunity to keep that ship moving,” he said.

He said there was no reports of other crew members feeling unwell and if that was the case, the vessel should set sail 3pm Sunday without any further issues.

The man is stable, isolated from general hospital population and has not had contact with the public.

Vega Dream has a crew of 20, with the remaining 19 seafarers still on the vessel.