STRICT docking procedures are in place for all vessels entering the Port of Richards Bay, as well as other South African ports, in a bid to prevent the Novel Coronavirus from spreading through the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Coronavirus a global health emergency as the worldwide death toll from the respiratory illness has jumped to over 200, while almost 12 000 infections have been recorded in China alone.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said South Africa is on high alert and ready for active surveillance, detention and tracing of any threats.
Meanwhile, cases of the virus in Botswana and Zambia are being investigated, while at least 35 South Africans are still in Wuhan, China, where the illness is thought to have originated.
Through its divisions Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), Transnet SOC Ltd is the custodian of South Africa’s ports and it is responsible for monitoring all vessels.
‘All suspected vessels will be placed under quarantine until clear answers [have been] received from the relevant authorities,’ said TNPA Acting Chief Harbour Master, Captain Sabelo Mdlalose.
A number of checks are in place to safeguard South Africa’s ports.
These include free pratique to all foreign vessels by the Port Health Department, recording the vessels’ last 10 ports of call, a separate list of vessels calling from affected areas, South African citizens including marine pilots are to refrain from eating or drinking aboard vessels from high-risk areas, no crew to be removed from a vessel without port health clearance, conducting a thorough sweep of stowaways, and all yachts arriving in the country must report to SAPS and the Port Health Department.
Transnet said its employees have been sensitised to the government’s national response plan to diagnose infected people and refer them to designated hospitals.
