Port workers in Australia are being put at risk because merchant vessels are permitted to self-declare biosecurity threats and suspected cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus, according to the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA).
In Darwin, port workers demanded a delay to the planned docking of the 1,810-teu boxship Kota Nebula (built 2010) on Friday, the MUA said.
The trade union claims the vessel has been allowed to flout the 14-day ban on vessels entering Australian ports after calling in China.
