BEING South Africa’s premier bulk port – the Port of Richards Bay welcomes cargo-laden vessels from West Africa all year round.
The associated health concerns and spread of disease from foreign crew members and ‘stowaways’ is therefore always a potential risk.
But, in light of the World Health Organisation declaring the deadly Ebola outbreak ‘a world health emergency’, and Liberia closing its borders to prevent further infections, it was a foregone conclusion that vessels from affected areas would not automatically be allowed into the local port.
Red flags have being raised and the readiness of local authorities questioned after a Liberian container ship, Hammonia Pacificum, was allowed to berth in Richards Bay on Saturday without the required health clearance or ‘free pratique’ being granted.
This means the ship in question had either not applied to port health for entry into the port, or had applied, but had not been granted health clearance.
Nevertheless, the vessel arrived from West Africa flying a ‘quarantine alert’ yellow flag and instead of being left at outer anchorage for health inspection, it was allowed to berth in Richards Bay.
It has since been confirmed there is ‘no evidence’ of Ebola onboard the vessel. It was a close call, but the scare has highlighted several important factors.
There appeared to have been ‘no protocol’ and, if there was, it had not been made known to port users and relevant authorities.
Given the close interaction between ship and berthing crew in all port environments, port users say the ship’s crew should have been inspected at anchorage by qualified doctors. The ship should not have been allocated to berth until crew members had been subsequently cleared through a physical examination.
The incident has also highlighted whether there are adequate medical resources, equipment and staff to deal with a patient infected with Ebola.
Are there contingency plans in place for isolated wards at local hospitals and are helicopters and ambulances equipped to deal with the transfer of a patient?
Richards Bay was found wanting this week in taking the necessary precautions like the rest of the world in light of the fact that a number of Zululanders work in West African countries.
