Reef pilot rules unchanged after positive community COVID-19 cases in Cairns

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A COVID-19 infection which led to a Cairns lockdown has not prompted changes to quarantine requirements for marine pilots.

The reef pilot caught the virus from the crew of an overseas vessel he’d navigated through the Great Barrier Reef, with genome sequencing proving the link.

He subsequently infected a Cairns taxi driver, which led to a snap three-day lockdown.

So far, there have been no other community cases, however more than 600 people remain in home quarantine.

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Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Angus Mitchell told Tropic Now marine pilots who board foreign vessels are generally not required to quarantine.

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“They have rigorous COVID-19 safe plans while on board visiting vessels which have been in place for a long time and are effective.

“Foreign vessels have strict health reporting requirements and must declare any COVID-19 symptoms on board before a pilot boards.”

The 11 crew members of the container ship Rio De La Plata who later tested positive to COVID-19 in New Zealand remain asymptomatic, according to the NZ Government.

All 72 Port of Tauranga workers who were identified as having contact with the crew have returned initial negative results.

The ship has now left New Zealand.

Mr Mitchell said the Cairns marine pilot – who is fully vaccinated – would have gone into quarantine if he’d suspected there was COVID-19 onboard.

“If a marine pilot has been on board a vessel where crew have COVID-19 symptoms, they are required to self-quarantine until the maritime crew receives a negative COVID-19 test,” he said.

“Marine pilots have been provided with priority opportunities for COVID-19 vaccination.

“Maritime Safety Queensland and Queensland Health continuously review processes and risk profiles as COVID-19 evolves.”