MV Akwa is now berthing outside Honiara Port after it was recalled by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Wednesday.
The vessel with its 11 crew and charterers arrived in Honiara at 11pm last night after its recent trip to East Areáre.
A company representative told Solomon Star this morning that they are going to follow all health protocols to ensure all persons on the ship are swabbed and the ship cleared of any infection.
However, the company rep said since the ship’s arrival they are still waiting for the health personnel to get in touch with them.
“We have contacted 115 and 25256 but still to get a response from the health team because the crew and the charterers really need water.
“Food is okay, they just need water to drink,” the person said.
MV Akwa was the vessel that bought passengers from Ontong Java to Honiara on 10th January 2022. One of the passengers onboard the vessel had since tested positive to COVID-19 – the start of community transmission of COVID-19 in Honiara.
In a special address yesterday Mr Sogavare said MV Akwa must now remain in Honiara Port for the health team to undertake a comprehensive assessment on its crew and travel history.
Since the trip from Ontong Java, MV Akwa continue to provide its service to other parts of Malaita – it last trip before it was recalled was to East Areáre.
Meanwhile, Honiara is now in lockdown to allow the health team to conduct contact tracing to know the full extent of community transmission of the virus in Honiara.
