Melbourne wharfies are refusing to unload cargo from a fully laden ship from China carrying toilet paper, surgical masks and tinned food due to fears they could catch coronavirus.

In the largest dispute to hit the Port of Melbourne since the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 60 dock workers have been stood down by stevedores DP World since Tuesday night over their refusal to unload the Xin Da Lian, which left a Taiwanese port less than 14 days ago.

The Xin Da Lian in the Port of Melbourne on Wednesday. Credit:AAP

The Victorian opposition is calling on the Andrews government to urgently intervene in the stand-off between DP World and the Maritime Union of Australia.

"This ship is carrying critical supplies needed by our doctors, nurses and paramedics to fight the coronavirus," shadow minister for ports and freight Roma Britnell said.