Hapag-Lloyd today reported that two crew members on board the 8,600 TEU containership Sofia Express tested positive for COVID-19 while the vessel was at anchor at the Port of Vancouver’s Deltaport terminal.

“Local authorities were duly notified and the mariners were immediately isolated and brought to a quarantine facility ashore. We are hoping for a speedy recovery,” the company said in a statement. “All other crew members on the vessel are being monitored and tested as deemed appropriate by the authorities.”

The container vessel is deployed on Hapag-Lloyd’s Pacific North Loop 4 (PN4) service connecting Kobe, Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Nagoya, Tokyo, Tacoma and Vancouver.

The ship’s berthing in Vancouver was already delayed due to terminal congestion but both loading and discharging operations have been finalised. The situation involving the crew has further changed the ship’s schedule and Sofia Express is expected to continue its voyage shortly towards Pusan. (photo VFPA)