Marine Atlantic crewmember tests positive for COVID-19

The MV Highlanders, sister ship to the MV Blue Puttees, departs Port aux Basques on Wednesay, Jan. 20.

The MV Blue Puttees has been pulled from service after a crew member tested positive for COVID-19. The vessel is currently being held dockside in North Sydney, Nova Scotia to facilitate further testing and contact tracing are underway.

"Approximately 125 employees are being tested, with approximately 65 isolating on the ferry with the current shift. The crew member in question followed all COVID-19 protocols, including wearing a mask and working behind plexiglass barriers, but may have had limited interaction with customers and employees. Our understanding is that NS Public Health and NL Public Health will be issuing advisories to passengers for select dates to monitor their health and contact 811 for further advice," stated Darrell Mercer, Corporate Communications Officer via e-mail.

In a prepared statement, Marine Atlantic confirmed that officials from Nova Scotia Public Health had notified the Crown corporation about the positive test on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Prior to that announcement, a letter had been circulating on social media of a letter allegedly handed to passengers prior to boarding the Tuesday evening crossing.

“The Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador health authorities have identified, out of an abundance of caution, that all crew members who were on the vessel and completed their shift as well as all crew members currently on the vessel will be tested.”

According to the statement, the vessel itself will also undergo a through cleaning.

As a result of the testing, today’s scheduled crossing by the Puttees for the 11:45 North Sydney to Port aux Basques and 23:45 return trip have been cancelled. While the Blue Puttees remains tied up, the MV Highlanders will continue its run, and the MV Atlantic Vision will also slide into the schedule as required.

We will update with more information as it becomes available.