SeaLink North Queensland is working to continue delivering essential passenger services. We are taking the necessary actions needed to stop the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
SeaLink is taking a range of measures to ensure the safety of passengers and our staff and we ask our passengers to assist us. Please click here to view our travel information and what SeaLink is doing to minimise the risk of COVID-19.
We appreciate your cooperation, understanding and continued support during these difficult times.
Please take the time to read through the latest advice below from Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council
*Palm Island Service Update, 2nd April 2020*
Effective as of Friday 3rd April, all Palm Island services will depart Townsville at 10.00am & Palm Island at 12.00pm. This has been approved by the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council to allow for schedule consistency and to support the delivery of essential freight whilst the travel restrictions to Palm Island are in place due to the Coronavirus.
For departure dates please view our timetable
Palm Island Unaccompanied Freight
Posted Tuesday 23rd March 2020
In response to Coronavirus and in support of the Palm Island Community, SeaLink will provide an unaccompanied freight service for ESSENTIAL HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES
This freight service will only operate whilst travel restrictions are in place.
Conditions of unaccompanied freight:
- Essential items only (food, medical, cleaning, personal items). Note there is limited cold storage available, as per our normal freight processes
- Limit of 4 items per person
- All food items must be sealed/wrapped so that no chemicals can enter these goods (SeaLink will be chemically treating all freight items for COVID 19)
- All items must be clearly labelled with the name of the person collecting the item
- There will be no cost for these freight items
- Freight will still be subject to the usual inspections under the Alcohol Management Plan
Freight items will be strictly managed. Essential items DO NOT include electrical appliances or furniture including TV’s, bikes, stereos, mowers etc.
Palm Island Freight Policy:
- All freight must be checked in at the freight counter as individual items as per our usual freight policy
- SeaLink reserves the right to refuse to carry freight that does not comply with our Freight Policy or Dangerous Goods Code and the vessel Master has the final decision
- SeaLink takes no responsibility for any loss or damage to freight
- No alcohol is permitted in the Freight Trolleys
No commercial freight will be accepted during this time.
Trolleys are available to book for $60 (these are limited, and you must call the office ahead of time to book)
SeaLink accepts no responsibility for unclaimed items, someone must be available at Palm Island to meet the freight as items will be left on the jetty at your own risk.
Palm Island Community Notice, Monday 23rd March 2020
Travel Restrictions: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council (PIASC), on behalf of the Palm Island Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG), advise that commencing from midnight on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, due to Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19), travel to Palm Island is restricted to the following:
• People involved in the provision of essential services in the community; and
• People undertaking essential medical travel as provided by Queensland Health.
‘Essential services’ means the following:
• Medical e.g. doctors, nurses and other essential health workers
• Police, Fire Services, Paramedics and Emergency Management
• Compulsory education providers e.g. teachers
• Public utilities e.g. electricity, telecommunications, sewerage, water etc
• Trades (where there are no available personnel already on the island)
• Public housing providers
• Community Development Program (CDP) management
• Public transport and freight providers
• Other services, as are approved by the Chief Executive Officer, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council.
ADDITIONALLY, the following people MUST NOT TRAVEL to Palm Island, even if they are an essential service:
• Any person who has been diagnosed with or suspected to be infected with Coronavirus;
• Any person who is feeling unwell or has had close contact with someone who is unwell, in the last 14 days;
• Any person who has travelled overseas or has had close contact with some who has travelled overseas, in the last 14 days.
ADDITIONALLY, ALL VESSELS are prohibited from landing or launching on any island within the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council Local Government Area except vessels involved in commercial passenger or freight transport and/or emergency management. This prohibition includes no use of vessels for hunting and fishing or travelling to or from the mainland.
THESE RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OF PALM ISLAND.
PENALTIES APPLY IF YOU BREACH THESE RESTRICTIONS
All travellers to Palm Island will be required to complete a travel questionnaire prior to travel.
Council requests that essential service providers review work arrangements to make every effort to limit travel of their essential staff to and from the island to a minimum.
IMPORTANT Any person travelling off Palm Island must be aware that there is a risk that they will not be permitted back into the community for a long time so that we can stay protected from this virus. People leaving the island should plan for this to happen, including having a place to stay on the mainland and money to buy their own food and other supplies while they are away.
These restrictions have been applied in the interest of the ongoing health, wellbeing and safety of our residents.
• For other information about how this issue is affecting our community, please visit www.palmcouncil.qld.gov.au
• For information about Coronavirus including symptoms and prevention, please visit www.health.qld.gov.au
