On the same day the RSV Nuyina embarked on a voyage to Davis Station late last year, a senior official at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) drafted a sternly worded letter.
The correspondence, which was tabled in the Senate last week, was sent to the icebreaker’s private operator, Serco.
It revealed the AAD’s concern that the majority of the ship’s crew had not adhered to strict COVID vaccination rules that apply in Antarctica.
“Our records indicate that 19 members of voyage one crew have not met the plan’s vaccination requirements,” AAD official Charlton Clark told Serco in the October letter.
“I would like to reaffirm our position that non-compliance with vaccination requirements places the safety of our people along with critical resupply and science activities at risk.”
AAD ‘disappointed’ in ‘high level of ongoing non-compliance’
Limited medical support in Antarctica means costly and logistically complex evacuations back to Australia are required if anyone develops a life-threatening condition.
To mitigate that risk, people travelling as part of the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) are required to have had a COVID vaccination, booster, or documented case of the virus within a specified timeframe.
At the time of the October voyage, that timeframe was within six months, or preferably three months, prior to departure.
“Vaccination is a key mitigator of those risks and so it is disappointing to see such a high level of ongoing non-compliance,” Mr Charlton wrote.
The COVID vaccination rules apply to expeditioners, ship crews, air crews and external contractors.
But an exemption was ultimately granted by the AAD to ensure the Nuyina’s resupply mission to Davis Station could proceed.
“The AAD works with all AAP participants to achieve the highest levels of compliance while delivering on our operational priorities,” an AAD spokesman told the ABC.
“The AAD takes a risk-based approach and at times we provide exemptions to the policy to achieve our operational priorities.”
In a statement, Serco said its crew had consistently met the recommendations of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
“The safety and wellbeing of all crew, Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) personnel, and expeditioners onboard RSV Nuyina is of paramount importance to Serco,” a spokesperson for the company said.
“We continue to work with the AAD to ensure appropriate levels of COVID-19 safety are maintained.”
ATAGI’s recommendations primarily focus on older adults and those with compromised immune systems, regarding the frequency of vaccination.
The AAD’s rules are stricter than ATAGI’s, although its specified timeframe for vaccines, boosters and positive cases has since been extended to 12 months.
COVID infection in Antarctica ‘could be fatal’
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who chaired a recent Senate inquiry into the AAD, said Serco’s non-compliance was a “significant concern”.
“It’s very difficult logistically and operationally to remove sick people from Antarctica,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
“And if that had to occur, it could be a huge distraction away from the other roles and responsibilities of the scientists and the operations people down there.”
He reiterated the inquiry’s recommendation for an independent review of the AAD’s operations and logistics branch, including its relationship with Serco.
“I think it’s absolutely critical that the department follows through on that so we can get to the bottom of these issues,” he said.
Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam, who helped instigate the Senate inquiry, also expressed concern.
“In that environment, if you have someone who develops terrible health conditions as a result of a COVID infection, that could be fatal,” Senator Duniam said.
He said precautions should always be taken when visiting Antarctica.
Union blames non-compliance on privatisation
The Community and Public Sector Union, which represents AAD staff, said the issue was the result of contracting a private company to operate the Nuyina.
“It’s an example of when you have outsourced providers not complying with government directions,” the union’s regional secretary in Tasmania, Zachary Batchelor, said.
“And so, in essence, what you create is an example of one rule for one group and one to the other, when at the end of the day, they’re all doing work for the department and for the Australian taxpayer.”
The Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers [AIMPE] said it supported the rights of crew members to adhere to the same vaccination standards as other Australians.
“Serco understood they couldn’t compel people to have a vaccine that was beyond the ATAGI standards,” AIMPE senior national organiser Nathan Niven said.
“Our view was that the requirements of AAD was above and beyond what was required by ATAGI.”
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