THE crew of oil tanker Haruna Express tested negative for COVID-19 following tests by New South Wales authorities late last week.
NSW Police did an offshore operation in coordination with NSW Health to test the crew which was awaiting clearance to dock.
This followed reports a number of crew members had been displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
The NSW Police Force’s Marine Area Command deployed a police launch to deliver COVID-19 test kits to the vessel, which was situated 3nm off Sydney.
The launch remained alongside while all 21 crew members were tested, before the test kits were returned for analysis.
The tanker, which originated from South Korea, has Indian and Russian crew members on board.
The swabs were handed over to NSW Health for analysis. Marine Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Joseph Mcnulty, said the operation was another reminder that police, in coordination with other government agencies, continued to manage the risk that COVID-19 posed to the community of NSW.
