16k passengers holed up in 452 ships due to coronavirus checks at Indian ports

New Delhi: As many as 16,076 crew and passengers onboard ships from China or having a history of recent travel to coronavirus-affected countries have not been allowed to disembark at Indian ports, a shipping ministry official said on Thursday.

These are passengers and crew of 452 ships. The vessels are being anchored at designated places, as per WHO guidelines.

However, the cargo from these ships has been brought in after taking precautions.

"No shore pass is being issued to the crew/seafarers having a travel history to or from the affected countries," an official told PTI.

As per WHO guidelines, all persons on board on these vessels are being scanned while extending necessary facilities to them.

At Paradip port, one crew member onboard the ship Chemstar Stellar developed fever, and he along with his wife were evacuated and transferred to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack for testing. The vessel had set sail from Zapu in China on February 10 and reached Paradip Port on March 1.

India has 12 major ports -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). Plus, there are about 200 non-major ports under the control of states.