86 crew members of trawler that docked in Bellingham test positive for COVID-19
Eighty-six crew members of the American Dynasty trawler that docked in Bellingham last week have tested positive for COVID-19, according to operator American Seafoods in a press release Sunday evening, May 31. Nine tests are still outstanding.
The Seattle-based crew are not showing symptoms of the disease and stayed on the ship when it was in Bellingham, according to American Seafoods.
The American Dynasty has returned to the Port of Seattle and is under quarantine, the press release said.
“The crew has access to any required medical care, and we are thrilled with the support that the agencies we are working with have provided. We have also put in place preparedness procedures in the event of a virus outbreak. Those plans are being fully executed right now,” said American Seafoods CEO Mikel Durham.
One crew member from the fishing vessel tested positive for the new coronavirus and was admitted to St. Joseph hospital Friday, May 29, for treatment, according to Suzanne Lagoni, spokesperson for American Seafoods, on Saturday, May 30. That crew member remains hospitalized Sunday, Lagoni said.
The ship docked in Bellingham Thursday, May 26, according to Whatcom Unified Command, the multi-governmental agency that’s directing local new coronavirus pandemic response.
The crew member reported symptoms Thursday evening and was taken to the hospital Friday morning, the unified command release stated.
“American Seafoods is cooperating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the CDC, the Seattle/King County Health Department, Whatcom County Health Department, and the Port of Seattle,” Durham said.
The ship is an 83-meter trawler built in 1975. It sailed for 15 days from Seattle.
According to the operator’s website, the American Dynasty can carry a crew of 142 and is a factory vessel fishing for pollock, hake and sole. Lanoni said the ship was carrying a crew of 124, including a medic, this voyage.
The marinetraffic.com map showed the ship docked near Bellingham Cold Storage at the north end of the port in the Squalicum Waterway on Saturday.
American Seafoods said it activated its COVID-19 response plan, which includes testing all crew members on board, as well as agreements with an isolation and quarantine facility in King County.
There have been no other positive tests on any of the company’s vessels, Lanoni said.
Durham said all crew members were screened and tested through the University of Washington before they boarded a vessel.
Unified command said the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Port of Bellingham have been notified.
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 6:11 PM.
