A German military supply ship has spent more than a week at port in the Royal Naval Dockyard after a medical incident on board.

The warship A1411, known as the Berlin, came to the island on November 10, three days after a helicopter brought a sick crew member to the island.

Meyer Freight, the agents for the vessel in Bermuda, could not give a departure date yesterday for the Berlin.

It is described as the largest vessel in the German navy, designed to resupply other naval units at sea with fuel, provisions and ammunition, as well as providing medical services.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health told The Royal Gazette that “a recent matter involving crew members from a military vessel was promptly and effectively managed”.

She added: “From the outset, measures were in place to ensure the situation remained under control, that any impact on the local community was kept to a minimum and that the crew received the care and intervention required.”

Shaun Ramroop, the Chief Medical Officer, added: “Our priority was to safeguard public health.

“The protocols implemented ensured that the situation was contained, the crew received the necessary medical support, and the community remained protected throughout.”

No further details were given on the nature of the medical incident.

According to the online site The Bermuda Flyer, a German Navy NH90 helicopter landed at LF Wade International Airport on the night of November 7 and was met by emergency services on the tarmac.

The ship had completed training exercises in the Arctic before making its way down the US East Coast. It was on its way from Miami to its home port of Wilhelmshaven in Germany when it had to divert to the island.

The 570ft vessel was launched in 1999 and commissioned in 2011.