Several fruit farmers have appealed to the Taiwanese government to let the Covid-19-stricken Ever Balmy resume its voyage, as they have containers of pomelos stuck on the ship.
The 2,800TEU Ever Balmy, operated by Evergreen Marine Corporation, had arrived in Kaohsiung on 4 September and was to have departed for Singapore the following day, with its arrival in the city-state scheduled for 8 September.
However, five of the ship’s 22 crew members tested positive for Covid-19 after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The infected seafarers were not vaccinated against the disease and investigations showed that they were likely to have contracted Covid-19 while Ever Balmy was in Japan the previous fortnight.
As the other 17 crew members had to be quarantined on Ever Balmy for 14 days. At the time of writing, the ship has remained in Wan Hai Container Terminal in Kaohsiung port, to the farmers’ consternation. Subsequently, one more crew member became ill and tested positive for Covid-19, leaving the other 16 to continue their isolation on the ship.
Pomelos are traditionally eaten to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is on 21 September. The farmers fear financial losses if the goods do not reach Singapore on time, as the cargo receivers could refuse to take delivery, and the fruits have a short shelf life.
The farmers have therefore asked the government to let the ship resume its journey.
The Central Epidemic Command Center has approved an epidemic prevention plan submitted by Evergreen. The plan involves replacing the crew and getting the aforementioned 16 seafarers to continue their quarantine in a designated hotel.
The Maritime Port Bureau said that the earliest that Ever Balmy can resume its journey is 17 September. This is because the vessel will also need to be deep-cleaned and disinfected.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
