The Viking Bay will dock in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Viking Bay will dock in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A ship carrying two mariners with Covid 19 will dock in Wellington on Monday, where all 20 crew will be tested, Customs has confirmed.
The Viking Bay, a deep-sea fishing vessel, has been floating off the coast of Taranaki after two crew members onboard tested positive for the virus.
Customsand the All of Government Covid team stood up a plan to allow the ship to safely return to New Zealand.
Details of the plan have just been announced.
After consulting with Wellington City Council and Wellington's CentrePort, the Government has decided the Viking Bay will dock at Queens Wharf in downtown Wellington. A perimeter fence will be put up around the area where the ship will dock.
The Viking Bay had also been offered an anchorage at the Ports of Auckland.
Ports of Auckland earlier said it would not be taking the Spanish flagged fishing vessel Viking Bay "in-port" but would allow it access to its quarantine anchorage near Rangitoto Island.
However Customs' group manager maritime Stephen Waugh said that given the circumstances in this case, only a berth located within a port environment was suitable.
Waugh said the process announced today would carry very low public health risk.
"The crew will be transported at a time that will minimise the risk of coming into contact with members of the public," he said.
"Customs will maintain presence at the port throughout the operation, with the support of additional security personnel, and the Police Maritime Unit maintaining watch over the water."
Customs said that all Government and CentrePort staff that interact with the vessel or crew are vaccinated.
