Upon arrival in Newark , New Jersey on 19 June 2020, a Maersk Idaho crew member was admitted to a local hospital after experiencing pneumonia-consistent symptoms, according to a statement released by Maersk Line Limited.
“The mariner has since tested positive for COVID-19 and remains hospitalized in stable condition,” the company said in a statement.
“The vessel captain reported that the mariner had not been ashore since joining the vessel in mid-April. Prior to knowledge of the mariner testing positive for COVID-19, the vessel had departed for Norfolk where it has taken a position at anchorage outside the port," Maersk added.
The company organized the crew medical testing with the US Coast Guard (USCG) and port authorities.
According to a plan approved by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC), the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (USCG), as well as other state and local agencies, Maersk Line Ltd. said that the current crew will soon be evacuated to a quarantine facility.
The 4,658 TEU vessel is to be sanitized and a new crew is to be placed on board. The organization also plans to initiate the call to the port to carry out cargo operations.
Established in South Korea in 2000, Maersk Idaho, formerly known as Gosport Maersk, arrived in the US from Bremerhaven, Germany, the data shows by VesselsValue.
Many seafarers were rescued from another Maersk vessel, Gjertrud Maersk, in Ningbo, China, late in March this year and taken to a local hospital. Maersk later reported that the containership crew had infections with coronavirus.
Maritime Business World