Five seafarers taken off Norden bulker with 'severe' Covid-19 symptoms: Crew members hospitalised while others in isolation at Le Havre

Five seafarers taken off Norden bulker with 'severe' Covid-19 symptoms: Crew members hospitalised while others in isolation at Le Havre
Gary Dixon 1 July 2021 https://www.tradewindsnews.com/bulkers/five-seafarers-taken-off-norden-b...

Five crew members have been taken to hospital from a Norden-operated bulker in France with severe Covid-19 symptoms.

French media said the 63,000-dwt Nord Sunda (built 2019) diverted to Le Havre on 30 June.

Toll unclear as latest wave of Covid-19 brings risk to seafarers

Emergency services evacuated the seafarers from the vessel, leaving 11 others in isolation on board.

All 16 had tested positive for Covid-19 after being examined by a medical team from the French navy, the Paris Normandie daily reported.

The medics had boarded the vessel at sea off Guernsey. When the test results were known, the decision was taken to bring the bulker in to Le Havre, according to harbour master Nicolas Chervy.

The Nord Sunda was en route from Liberia.

Crew being supplied

A guard post has been established on the quayside by the ship. Food and water is being provided as needed.

Nord Sunda was carrying iron ore to Dunkirk.

Norden has been contacted for further information.

The highly infectious nature of new Covid-19 variants, particularly the Delta strain, continues to pose a threat to crews.

In June, a crew member died and another five tested positive for Covid-19 after an outbreak on a V.Ships-managed containership off Ecuador.

The Hamburg office of the ship manager told TradeWinds that the other infected seafarers were asymptomatic.

The outbreak occurred on the 3,534-teu Northern Democrat (built 2009), owned by Northern Shipping Holding of Germany, while it was en route from the US port of Los Angeles to Ecuador.(Copyright)