- In St.John’s, sailors aboard an offshore supply vessel are panicked about their safety following the approval to four American technicians to join the ship with no self-isolation.
- Crew members actively resisted the joining of the workers from Oil State Industries as the ship is destined to reach Quebec next month for repairs.
- Oil State Industries are located in Texas where Covid 19 is on a rise.
- The crew represented their concern through their ship’s email address to the federal government stating that this a health issue for them and their families.
- Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, the province’s chief medical officer of health, signed an exemption order May 29, allowing a wide range of professions to skip the isolation period.
- The order also includes the crew on any vessel.
A recent news report published in CBC written by Ryan Cooke states that the sailor sounds alarm after Americans were approved to join St.John’s ship without isolating themselves.
Maersk responds
A Maersk executive said the Americans are to arrive in St. John’s around Aug. 11, and proceed straight to their hotel and take a test for the virus.
The four technicians should be negative prior to joining the vessel which is due to depart for a shipyard in Les Méchins, Que., on Aug. 12.
“They love to talk about safety until it really comes down to it”, Maersk crewmember.
Maersk obtains exemption to quarantine
“These four persons would have also been tested prior to leaving the U.S.,” said Francois-Xavier Morency, the managing director of Maersk’s operations in Canada. “An exemption to quarantine from the N.L. government has been received for these four persons.”
Professionals to skip the isolation
- According to an exemption order signed on May 29, a wide range of professions are to skip the isolation period who come to the province.
- Based on the order the crew on any vessel is free from self isolation.
- They must self-isolate when they are not working.
- The provincial order is in line with a federal exemption to the Canadian-American border closure, which allows essential workers to cross over without the need for isolation.
- People can fill out the online reporting forms if anyone has an issue with essential workers not following protocols during their time in the province.
Social distancing at work place not possible
Concerned crew members say that there is no way to keep a distance of two metres between each worker on the ship. They fear what could happen if one of the Texans walks aboard the ship with COVID-19.
Whereas, Maersk has a thorough COVID-19 safety plan.
On this note, a crew member said the company undercut any commitments it had to worker safety when it sought exemptions to isolation orders for the Texan technicians.
“They love to talk about safety until it really comes down to it,” the crew member said on anonymity.
Europeans to join the ship in Quebec
Maersk initially expected there to be 55 people on board the boat. But a later manifest showed only 35 workers, including 10 from the Norweigian company Kongsberg, who are set to join the team in Quebec.
The Europeans workers will work on repairs at the shipyard and will not stay on board the ship, says Maersk.
Maersk seeks for exemptions to self-isolation
There will be a crew change partway through the month-long refit.
Maersk is also seeking exemptions to self-isolation orders for the Newfoundland and Labrador workers aboard the ship when they return to the province from Quebec.
With less restrictions and people living freer daily lives, the crew members are worried that their ship could be the source of an outbreak.
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Source: CBC
