Upwards of 60 Australian longshoremen were stood down Tuesday after they refused to unload a container ship from China.
The Xin Da Lian docked at the DP World terminal in the Victoria state capital of Melbourne after leaving Shanghai on March 17. Union organizers claim the ship may be contaminated with coronavirus and should instead be held in quarantine.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) says the vessel is in breach of the federal government’s 14-day coronavirus quarantine period after visiting a Taiwanese port on March 19 during its voyage Down Under, local outlet News.com reports.
Workers say shaving two days off the quarantine period is “a risk to workers and the community” and those who refused to unload the vessel over concerns about the risk of the coronavirus were sent home.
DP World Australia chief operating officer Andrew Adam says the ship was cleared to berth by the Australian Border Force.
Federal judge orders deported Venezuelans to be returned to US
Trump Rips Oklahoma’s ‘RINO’ Governor Over False Claim That Only Republicans Were Invited to Upcoming Dinner
GOP senator, Minnesota AG clash at Capitol Hill hearing: ‘Sit there and smirk, it’s sick’
Watch: Melania’s Perfect Reaction When a Kind Young Man With a Boatload of Guts Gently Hit on Her
Delcy Rodríguez considering visit to US after meeting with energy secretary
Senate Democrats weigh skipping Trump State of the Union address
Possible tattoo seen in Nancy Guthrie video may help ID subject, former profiler says
House Passes SAVE Act: Only One Democrat Voted for Proof of Citizenship in US Elections
Homan announces Operation Metro Surge to conclude in Minnesota
DEI, climate agenda advanced through progressive-backed lawsuits, new report claims
Nancy Mace Says She’s Seen Unredacted Epstein List, Which Shields ‘Prime Ministers’ and ‘Former Presidents’
Florida man suspected of killing 6 in shooting spree at 2 residences identified
GOP leaders want Trump to endorse Cornyn in Texas Senate primary amid fears of costly fight
House Republican Greg Steube introduces bill to nix controversial H-1B visa program
Minivan mom puts Dem incumbent on notice in top GOP target district: ‘She has done nothing for us’
“Any crew members aboard a vessel that has been to mainland China must have been at sea for 14 days before they are allowed to dock in Australia,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The union is not allowed to unilaterally declare a vessel unsafe. They are not allowed to create their own set of rules.”
MUA national assistant secretary Warren Smith said it didn’t want to see a repeat of Sydney’s Ruby Princess cruise ship debacle where the vessel was allowed to send all its passengers ashore without screening after it had docked.
“The largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in Australia … was the result of inadequate measures put in place for the arrival of ships,” he said in a statement as reported by local outlet 7News.
“What’s the difference with this ship?”
Story cited here.
