Several the mainstream protection and indemnity insurers are warning shipowners and their crew to closely monitor the spread of the coronavirus.

So far there have been 540 confirmed cases of the disease, mostly in China, and 17 deaths.

Although the virus, which originated in the inland region of Wuhan, is not viewed as an immediate threat to crew, Steamship Mutual’s Hong Kong office chief executive Rohan Bray said there are number of issues to consider if the threat grows.