A container ship of Maersk is docked at Ningbo Zhoushan Port. Photo: cnsphoto

Maersk, the world's leading container shipping company, on Monday confirmed five crew members aboard the Gjertrud Maersk container ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, and are receiving medical treatment.

The ship berthed in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, and transferred the seven crew members to onshore medical institutions for further testing, treatment and care. After diagnosis, one symptomatic and four asymptomatic COVID-19 cases were confirmed, with two other individuals testing negative four separate times through nucleic acid tests, Maersk said on its official WeChat account on Monday.

The crew members are in stable conditions, and 15 others are put under observation aboard the ship in normal conditions.

The report was confirmed by China's Ministry of Transport (MOT) Monday. According to a statement from the MOT, the Danish container ship arrived at an anchorage outside Ningbo on March 17, and the ship's agent reported problems with the crew on March 18. Customs officers boarded the ship on the March 20 to initiate a quarantine check-up, and found seven crew members in abnormal conditions.

Zhejiang Province and port inspection departments across China have attached great importance to the case, and have discussed the treatment plan for the crew involved. While the ship was docked at Ningbo, the container was thoroughly disinfected. 

The ship is not loaded with cargo at present, Maersk said.

The MOT, together with other relevant departments, is overseeing the crew change to ensure international shipping order and to carry out relevant disposal work in accordance with laws and regulations, according to a local government statement.