Japan Marine United (JMU) has closed its Ariake shipyard this week in a bid to stop the further spread of coronavirus around the western island of Kyushu.

As reported by TradeWinds last week, 23 JMU employees tested positive for Covid-19 infection following the emergence of a growing infection cluster in Kumamoto prefecture where the yard is located.

JMU executives have now taken the decision to close the yard throughout the rest of this week.