A renewed standoff is brewing over a cruise ship docked in the port of Fremantle that is responsible for dozens of coronavirus cases in WA hospitals, with the vessel’s operators fighting back against demands it leave Australian waters.
The Artania has been directed by the Australian Border Force (ABF) to depart Fremantle, but its crew has responded by saying they want to remain for another two weeks.
The ship still has 450 crew and about a dozen passengers on board, with the rest flown home on charter flights to Germany over the weekend.
None of the passengers or crew from the vessel are Australian.
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A total of 41 passengers and crew from the Artania are already being treated in West Australian hospitals for COVID-19, with several in life-threatening situations.
Health authorities are concerned there could be scores of further infections from the passengers and crew left on the ship, a situation that could put increased strain on the WA hospital system.
It is understood the Artania’s crew has written to the ABF asking to remain in Fremantle until April 14 and also requesting a thorough cleaning of the ship.
WA Premier Mark McGowan was yesterday adamant that the vessel needed to leave.
It is a problem creating headaches for authorities around the world — what to do with hundreds of foreign passengers aboard a cruise ship infected with coronavirus.
“There is no reason why it should remain in Western Australia,” he said.
WA Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson warned earlier this week it was likely there would be more Artania COVID-19 infections, given how the virus has spread through other cruise ships.
The treatment of foreign nationals in WA hospitals proved highly controversial over the weekend, with the Australian Medical Association blasting initial plans to cater for patients at Hollywood and either Bethesda or The Mount private hospitals.
The bulk of patients were eventually taken to Joondalup’s private hospital in Perth’s north, with a handful of others too unwell to be transported being treated at public facilities.
The passengers still on board the vessel have been deemed too frail to fly home.
–ABC
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