A cargo ship from Xiamen, China, which arrived in this city on Monday, has been quarantined by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as a precaution against the coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVid-19) threat.
The notice of arrival of M/V Unicorn Bravo was provided by Lt. Commander Jansen Benjamin, PCG-Negros Occidental head, to reporters here showing that the vessel is manned by 19 crew members, including 15 Chinese and four Burmese nationals, led by shipmaster Wang Zhiqiang.
Benjamin said in an interview on Wednesday the vessel is anchored on another ship about a kilometer away from the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) port at the Reclamation Area.
Personnel of the Bureau of Quarantine will check the crew on Thursday, he added.
The crew members are expected to undergo a 14-day quarantine protocol.
The PCG-Negros Occidental also released a copy of the record list of the crewmen’s body temperature from Feb. 19 to 25, which are between 36.0 and 36.6 centigrade.
M/V Unicorn Bravo, which flies the Panamanian flag, is carrying 3,300 metric tons of ammonium sulfate fertilizer to be delivered to La Filipina Uygongco Corp., according to the notice of arrival signed by Reynald Endrina of Grainman Marine Transport Inc.
Earlier this month, San Carlos City in northern Negros Occidental has prohibited vessels arriving from China, Hong Kong, and Macao from anchoring in its port.
Mayor Renato Gustilo had issued an executive order addressed to the PCG and the Philippine Ports Authority, reiterating the Department of Health’s guidelines for all seaports that were issued by Health Secretary Francisco Duque last February 4.
Since there is an absence of quarantine facilities and qualified personnel in the city, all vessels calling from China, Hong Kong, and Macao Special Administrative Regions shall be directed to proceed to the competent port in Cebu and Manila,” Gustilo said.(Nanette Guadalquiver pna via ndb)
