Statement: Arrival of the Mattina into Napier Port

Last month, crew members on board the Mattina container ship tested positive for COVID-19. They were transferred into isolation facilities and the Mattina remained berthed at South Port.

On 18 August, the Mattina and its crew were officially cleared by health officials following deep cleaning procedures under Southern DHBs infection, prevention and control advice and guidance.

As part of our preparations for allowing its entry into Napier Port, we have spoken in detail to our colleagues at South Port, the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Hawke’s Bay DHB (HBDHB). We are confident that all reasonable precautions have been taken and the vessel is safe to berth here this weekend.

Our decision is based on the following:

• The crew have fully recovered and are no longer infectious (all have tested negative)
• The vessel has been cleaned 4 times using Oxyvir – the same product used to clean all MIQ facilities
• Southport’s high level of comfort that the vessel and its crew are safe for their people to work
• Southland DHB’s strict process and requirements for the vessel to be cleared from quarantine
• Hawke’s Bay DHB will be monitoring the vessel and crew prior to arrival and during their stay in Napier

We know this comes at a time when many people are feeling anxious about the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Napier Port has taken a firm position regarding the protection of our border and keeping everyone on port and in the community safe (https://www.napierport.co.nz/napier-port-covid-19-update-additional-maritime-border-protocols/). Central to this has been our policy of requiring confirmed cases, or close contacts of confirmed cases, to anchor offshore and test negative before berthing; as we implemented with the Ken Rei in November 2020 and the Rio de la Plata recently.

Media contact:
communications@napierport.co.nz