It might be its most expensive crew change ever but after six months in the Indian Ocean, Nelson-based seafood company Sealord is sparing no expense to bring its fishermen home. A 23,000km round trip costing around $300,000 is due to take off from Christchurch this week to relieve crew members of the vessel Will Watch. After exploring a number of different options, Sealord has resorted to chartering two private jets to get five mainly Nelson-based crew to Mauritius and seven crew over there back home. “We want to keep our people in jobs and our 20-year operation in Mauritius is important to us.”Paulin said like New Zealand, Mauritius had been hugely affected by Covid-19. Both crew have Covid-19 tests pre-departure in New Zealand and Mauritius, and go into quarantine for 14-days on return.

Source: Stuff August 25, 2020 04:52 UTC