Panaji, Apr 22 (IANS): More than 180 Goan seafarers onboard three vessels are currently stranded off Mumbai, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday, adding that the state government was readying screening and quarantine facilities for more than 8,000 stranded Goan seafarers who are currently stranded in different parts of the world.

Sawant also urged hoteliers in Goa, not to be apprehensive about the government's requisitioning of their facilities as temporary quarantine centres, stating that only those seafarers who test Covid-19 negative would be housed in their hotel premises, until the mandatory isolation period.

"There are currently three vessels off Mumbai which have Goan crew. The crew will be disembarked soon now, that the central government has issued SOPs," Sawant said. In all 189 Goan sailors are currently onboard three ships off Mumbai, awaiting return to Goa,he also said.

Sawant also said, that the state government was in the process of creating quarantine facilities for more than 8,000 seafarers who are likely to be brought to Goa, in co-ordination with the central government, in a phased manner.

"Some hoteliers are worried about offering their premises for quarantine centres. I can assure them that only Covid-10 negative seafarers will be housed there," Sawant said.

Sawant also said, that there were reports of some people illegally entering into Goa despite the lockdown and added that those who sneak into the state, would be placed in a paid institutional quarantine facility henceforth.