The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has given emergency help to 21 Filipino crew members onboard the cargo vessel MV Athens Bridge from India after 12 of them tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The PCG also restricted other sea vessels from going near the MV Athens Bridge to avoid the further spread of the viral disease.
PCG Commander Michael Andag, commander of Port State Control Center National Capital Region – Central Luzon, said that they delivered at least 10 oxygen tanks and transported the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) doctors to assess the COVID-19 positive crew members.
“Aboard ng PCG vessel namin which is BRP Panglao (FPB-2402) nagdala kami ng 10 bottles na oxygen tank kagabi and hinatid namin yung BOQ na doctor na nagassess doon sa mga crew na nagpositive (Aboard of our PCG vessel which is BRP Panglao we brought 10 bottles of oxygen tank last night and we assisted the BOQ doctor to assess the crew who tested positive),” Andag told the Manila Bulletin on Friday, May 7.
“Yung mga crew members ay nasa vessel pa currently lahat, tapos dalawa lang yung naibaba kaninang madaling araw alas 1:30 a.m. (The crew members are currently in the vessel, then only two were disembarked today at 1:30 a.m.),” Andag said.
Andag said the two seafarers were brought to the Manila Medical Hospital for further medical treatment.
According to the shipping agent of the MV Athens Bridge, the ship sailed to Vietnam from India last Thursday, April 22.
The Panama-flagged cargo vessel arrived in Haiphong, Vietnam on Saturday, May 1, where its crew members underwent RT-PCR test. It was found that among the 21 Filipino crew, 12 of them tested positive for COVID-19.
On Thursday, May 6, the PCG received a request from the captain of the MV Athens Bridge because the conditions of two COVID-19 positive seafarers were critical. It occurred while the ship was anchored approximately 12 miles to Corregidor Island, the PCG said.
Andag said the cargo ship was currently docked at 9.5 nautical miles away from South Harbor, Manila.
“As of now restricted po, other vessels are restricted na lumapit sa kanila (we have restricted other vessels to approach them). Our personnel from Coast Guard station Cavite is conducting the security doon sa area,” Andag said.
“The 10 crew positive will be also maybe this afternoon mababa na rin sila para magproceed sa quarantine facility and yung matitira quarantine muna sila sa vessel (to disembark them and transport them to quarantine facility while the remaining others will take their quarantine in the vessel),” he added.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured the public that the situation and the condition of the crew members will be consistently monitored. It added that health and safety protocols will also be prioritized throughout the entire process.