JULIUS GEIRMUNDSSON

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Captain pleaded guilty after crew contracted coronavirus

On Jan 14, 2021, Sveinn Geir Arnarsson, captain of the 'Júlíus Geirmundsson', pleaded guilty when the Westfjords Police Chief’s case against him was heard in the Westfjords District Court. Sveinn has been ordered to pay a fine of ISK 750,000 ($5,800/€4,800) and his captain’s licence has been suspended for a period of four months. 22 of the freezer trawler’s 25 crew members contracted COVID-19 while at sea in October 2020. The ship did not return to the harbour for three weeks despite the outbreak on board. The crew later called for the captain’s resignation. Three months since the incident, some of the ship’s crew were still unable to work due to COVID-19 complications. Sveinn was charged with violating the second paragraph of Article 34 of the Fishermen’s Act, which states: “If there is reason to believe that the crew member is suffering from a disease that poses a danger to other people on the ship, the captain shall have the patient transported ashore if it is not possible to protect against the risk of infection on the ship.” Five labour unions also pressed charges against the captain following the incident

Crew demanding captain’s resignation

The crew of the 'Júlíus Geirmundsson' has sent a letter to the ship’s management demanding its captain’s resignation. The captain and management have been criticised for their handling of a COVID-19 outbreak on the ship, which infected 23 of 25 crew members. The captain will undergo a maritime inquiry and also faces charges from five labour unions related to the incident. The 'Júlíus Geirmundsson' had stayed at sea for three weeks despite an outbreak of COVID-19 on board. Crew members have stated there was not enough medication on board to treat ill crew members, and some were forced to continue working while sick. The letter demanding the captain’s resignation is written and signed by a majority of the ship’s alternate crew, which was not on board at the time the outbreak occurred. The crew behind the letter is the one that most often works under the captain. The letter is described as a declaration of no confidence in the captain and demands his resignation. It states that his behaviour and decisions have created an undercurrent that has now come to light. The management of Hraðfrystihúsið Gunnvör, which operates the ship, declined to comment on the letter. An investigation into the incident by the Westfjords Police Department was now in its final stages. On Nov 13, 2020, the Reykjanes District Court ruled in support of a maritime inquiry into the incident. Court proceedings will begin on Nov 23 in the Westfjords District Court with witness testimony. The captain and the company that operates the trawler both face charges from five labour unions related to the incident.