Kia Australia has confirmed it has been affected by the recent stink bug infestation found onboard the Glovis Caravel car-carrier ship.
This biosecurity risk has also seen a large number of Australia-bound Tesla Model Y electric SUVs denied entry to Australia, with the ship ordered to head back to China.
Kia Australia has confirmed around 1000 vehicles are impacted by the stink bug infestation on board the Glovis Caravel. The ship is understood to have a capacity of 6500 vehicles.
It’s unclear exactly what Kia vehicles are currently onboard the Glovis Caravel, though a CarExpert reader confirmed a Sportage they ordered back in September 2022 is on the ship.
According to ship trackers, the Glovis Caravel reached a port in Shanghai, China at 6PM on January 2.
“The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, & Forestry (DAFF) has determined that all vehicles on Glovis Caravel will require treatment prior to being allowed to discharge in Australia,” said a Kia Australia spokesperson.
“The vessel has been sent offshore to undertake the required treatment and it is anticipated this cargo will return to Australia during February.
“Around 1,000 Kia vehicles are impacted and the Kia dealer network has been notified. Kia Australia is working with all relevant parties to have the situation resolved as soon as possible.”
As recently reported, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry confirmed there were live Yellow Spotted Stink Bugs found onboard the Glovis Caravel, in addition to other biosecurity risks.
“The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working with a vehicle carrier to manage biosecurity risk posed by live insects detected on the vessel and its goods,” said a spokesperson for the department.
“The vessel became subject to biosecurity control upon entry into Australian territory. The Department understands that the vessel has left Australian territory in order to manage the biosecurity risk associated with the goods.
“There were multiple detections, including Yellow Spotted Stink Bug which poses significant threat to Australia’s plant health and environment because of the damage it can do to agricultural crops, fruit and ornamental trees.
“The department’s primary concern is the management of biosecurity risk to protect Australia. The goods can be unloaded when biosecurity risks have been managed to an acceptable level.”
This isn’t the first time the Glovis Caravel has been turned back from a port and its crew been forced to fumigate the ship.
As reported by The New Zealand Herald in 2018, the Glovis Caravel was ordered to leave New Zealand after the new crew found around 600 stink bugs, with 12 of them still alive.
A Kia Australia spokesperson also confirmed it was impacted by a similar situation that occurred in 2019 with the Dugong Ace car-carrier ship.
MORE: Australia-bound Tesla Model Y electric cars sent back to China
