(Bloomberg) -- Authorities are urging a German-operated cruise ship to leave Australian waters amid concerns that a coronavirus outbreak on board could overwhelm already-strained local hospitals.
The state government in Western Australia wants the MS Artania to leave the port of Fremantle and is asking the federal border force to resolve a standoff. Operator Phoenix-Reisen GmbH is refusing to leave for 14 days so it can first determine whether any more people on board are infected, and wants the vessel to be thoroughly cleaned, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
“If the ship needs to be cleaned, well, clean it and then get it on its way,” Premier Mark McGowan told reporters Wednesday. “I'd urge the Australian Border Force to get the ship on its way. It has to get back to Germany.”
Passengers were evacuated on mercy flights to Frankfurt on Sunday, according the operator's website. The ship still has 12 passengers and 450 crew on board, the ABC said. A total of 41 passengers and crew are already being treated in West Australian hospitals for Covid-19, according to the report.
The remaining 12 passengers will be allowed to disembark later Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs said.
The standoff comes amid heightened concerns about the potential virus risk posed by cruise ships. Of Australia's 4,707 confirmed cases, more than 10% are related to cruise ships. Hundreds of people have become infected from a ship in Sydney after passengers were allowed to disembark before test results were known.
Artania had requested medical assistance last week after 25 passengers and crew reported respiratory illnesses as it arrived to refuel.
“What I don't want to see is the Artania sit there and potentially attract ships from somewhere else on the basis you can stay in Fremantle,” McGowan said. “We want them to go back to Germany as soon as they can.”
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
