A sailor who jumped from an international oil tanker and was found clinging to a buoy five kilometres from shore in Port Phillip Bay has been placed in hotel quarantine, as authorities prepare to inspect the ship.
The 31-year-old Georgian national was rescued by water police after they were told by harbour control that he was holding onto a navigational marker about 8pm on Sunday.
He was pulled from the water and taken to Williamstown where he was medically assessed.
Officers from the Australian Border Force and Department of Health accompanied him to hospital and he was expected to be transferred to hotel quarantine on Tuesday.
Victoria Police said the officers who dealt with the man were sent into isolation.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the seafarer had jumped into the water from the Liberian-flagged MV Kanpur while it was at anchor.
“Victorian Police co-ordinated the rescue of the seafarer from the water and it is understood that he is currently in quarantine under the care of the state Health Department,” a spokeswoman said.
“AMSA will inspect the ship when it is due to come alongside in port [on Wednesday].”
International Transport Workers’ Federation inspector Matt Purcell said the union was working with relevant authorities to determine why the seafarer jumped overboard, and what support he and the rest of the crew require.
“The vessel is currently at anchor, but is due to berth [on Wednesday]. Once that occurs, representatives of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Border Force, Department of Health and Human Services Victoria, and the ITF will undertake an inspection of the vessel and interview crew members,” he said.
“The ITF is also in discussions with the vessel manager, Cyprus-based Columbia Ship Management, along with our Latvian union affiliate, which has a collective agreement covering the vessel’s crew.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further until we have had an opportunity to speak with the seafarer involved, and the remainder of the crew, to better understand his motivation for jumping overboard.“
Kanpur, an oil tanker, is owned by Columbia Ship Management, which is headquartered in Cyprus. The company has been contacted for comment.
Online tracking data shows the vessel has been in Port Phillip Bay since May 2 and before that it was in New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
It was 16 degrees in Williamstown about 8pm on Sunday, with light winds and a water temperature of about 16 degrees.
Foreign travellers from all countries cannot enter Australia, but international maritime crew can apply for an exemption to these restrictions. International maritime crew who are granted exemptions are required to quarantine for 14 days at the point of arrival.
