Hot Port News from GAC
02-Mar-2020
AIR DEFENCE FIRING
Pakistan
CORONAVIRUS: MEASURES TAKEN BY HEALTH AUTHORITIES
Brazil
CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES
Jordan
CREW CHANGE OR VESSEL ATTENDANCE
Turkey
COVID-19 UPDATE (29 FEBRUARY)
Australia
NEW HEALTH SCREENING PROCEDURES AT BINTULU PORT
Malaysia
CORONAVIRUS: MEASURES TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
India
CHANGES TO BERTHING GUIDELINES AT VISAKHAPATNAM
Visakhapatnam
CORONAVIRUS: VOSTOCHNIY AND NAKHODKA PORT RESTRICTIONS
Vostochniy & Nakhodka
CORONAVIRUS: DISEMBARKATION FROM CRUISE SHIPS SUSPENDED
Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee & Hambantota
MEDICAL CHECKUP FOR OFF SIGNERS
Mina Saqr, Khorfakkan, UAE
COVID 2019: RUSSIAN PORT VOSTOCHNIY, NAKHODKA RESTRICTIONS
VostochVostochniy and Nakhodkaniy , Nakhodka, Russia
Air Defence Firing
Monday, March 2, 2020, Pakistan
According to JMICC, Air Defence firing practice with live ammunition is scheduled from 1 March to 31 March 2020 (including holidays) between 0700 and 1400 and 1800 and 2100 hours in areas bounded by:
25-20.65N 066-32.70E
25-22.27N 066-38.79E
25-10.18N 066-43.91E
25-10.50N 066-45.40E
All sea going vessels including fishing boats and small crafts, as well as merchant ships approaching/departing to/from Karachi and Bin Qasim port respectively are advised to keep well clear of the above mentioned areas.
For information on operations at Pakistani ports, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Coronavirus: Measures taken by health authorities
Monday, March 2, 2020, Brazil
The Brazilian Health Authority Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) has defined measures for increased surveillance and control to be adopted at Brazilian ports, airports and ground crossings:
Increasing guidance to sanitary inspection and healthcare staff about the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased sensibility for detection and management of suspected cases of the novel coronavirus.
Reinforcement of contingency plans and preparedness for immediate reporting of suspected cases at the points of entry.
Intensification of cleaning and disinfection routines and procedures at port and airport terminals and use of PPE by cleaning workers.
Heightening of disinfection protocols for aircrafts.
Addressing passengers, in Portuguese, English and Mandarin, through airport PA systems on the risks and measures to be taken to avoid transmission.
Following the guidance provided by the WHO and the PAHO, ANVISA is not implementing any specific controls of vessels arriving at Brazilian ports which are otherwise operating normally. Nonetheless, as in other international outbreaks of transmissible diseases, it is expected that health controls in Brazilian ports will be increased to some extent. Therefore, vessels arriving from overseas ports must ensure full adherence to the IHR 2005, particularly concerning vaccination cards and ship sanitation certificates.
Note: Vessels coming from following countries:
Australia
Cambodia
China
France
Germany
Italy
Iran
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Singapore
South Korea
Thailand
Vietnam
For the vessels that have been in the above-mentioned countries within last 30 days prior arrival in Brazil, Captains must declare in the Maritime Declaration form that the vessel has visited an affected area identified by the World Health Organization.
The Master will be requested to provide copy of Medical Book report showing last 30 days statements.
Based on information provided by Master, Health authorities will provide the Free Pratique by radio in cases where there are no signs of risks to the public health. Otherwise, a more stringent investigation will take place and the Free Pratique will be subject to its results.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Brazil, contact GAC Brazil at brazil@gac.com
Coronavirus guidelines
Monday, March 2, 2020, Jordan
Further to the guidelines of 26 February 2020, the Jordan Maritime Commission has confirmed the following:
It is necessary for all people whose work environment requires them to embark the international vessels, to wear health protection clothing to prevent the spread of the virus, such as gags, gloves, goggles and other related necessary health protection clothing, as well as keep enough distance when dealing with vessels’ crew members.
All vessels’ crew are required to comply with the above.
Cruise vessels must comply with all the guidelines mentioned in the document issued by the Ministry of Interior, document no 10/11/C/41858 on 25/02/2020, on preventing foreigners from entering Jordanian territories.
The disposal of garbage by vessels coming from countries where the virus is rife is not allowed.
In case of an accident during work or other medical cases that are not related to the coronavirus, coordinate with Aqaba health directorate to deal with these situations.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Jordan, contact GAC Jordan at jordan@gac.com
Crew change or vessel attendance
Monday, March 2, 2020, Turkey
The permission of the ‘General Directorate of Health for Borders and Coasts’ must be obtained for agency contact to a vessel for any purpose such as crew change or superindent/technician attendance etc. To obtain the authority’s permission, the vessel must declare the last 10 ports of call. If the last 10 ports of call include any of the ‘risky’ countries, then the vessel must submit the following documents:
– Last 10 ports of call
– Lastest crew list (including joining date & time and port for all crew members)
– Maritime decleration of health
– Crew body temperature list (should be measured 24 hours prior to arrival in Turkish straits)
Original copy of above mentioned documents, duly signed and stamped should be handed to the agency boat.
In addition, the disembarkation of a crew from a vessel that has visited any of the ‘risky’ countries in last 10 port calls during the past 14 days will not be permitted.
List of ‘risky’ countries: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, China, Italy
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Turkey, contact GAC Turkey at turkey@gac.com
Monday, March 2, 2020,
COVID-19 Update (29 February)
Monday, March 2, 2020, Australia
On 29 February, the Government announced new restrictions on travellers from Iran. Effective 1 March, the restrictions are: Any foreign travellers who have left or transited through Iran on or after 1 March 2020 will be refused entry to Australia for 14 days in order to minimise the potential spread of Novel Coronavirus. The Australian Border Force (ABF) arrival questions have been updated to include questions on whether any crew member has transited through Iran.
Darwin
Inpex terminal – INPEX has imposed travel restrictions to Japan/Iran/Italy and South Korea. All vessel crew transiting the Terminal, whether they are on/off signers or going on shore leave, must complete the INPEX self-assessment questionnaire assessment. If a crew member has not completed the assessment, they will not be allowed access to the Terminal. Vessel Masters are still required to complete the Vessel Screening Questionnaire.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
New health screening procedures at Bintulu Port
Monday, March 2, 2020, Malaysia
The Ministry of Health Malaysia has adopted new control measures following Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases reported in Malaysia on January 2020.
To prevent the transmission of the virus through vessels and crew coming from China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran, Bintulu Port has establish control measures on Port Health Clearance as follows:
– Documents to be submitted to Port Health Officer by ship agents within 48 to 72 hours before vessels’ arrival
– All vessels coming from any port in China in less than 14 days will be put on Status B (quarantine at berth) or status C (quarantine at anchorage)
– Crew screening and vessel sanitary inspection will be immediately conducted by Bintulu Port Health Office upon vessel alongside
– For vessels coming under status B or C, ship shore leave will be suspended on a temporary basis until the situation has improved, except on medical ground approved by Port Health Officer
– The wearing of face mask is compulsory for personnel who are engaged in port operation and have direct exposure. These include but are not limited to various vessel clearance authorities, port operator or terminal operator handling cargo operation, pilots, pilot boat crew and vessel agents.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations at Malaysian ports, contact GAC Malaysia at shipping.malaysia@gac.com
Coronavirus: Measures taken by Government of India
Monday, March 2, 2020, India
The Government of India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced in Intelligence Bureau memorandum No. 75/A3/Health/2020-565 that visas and e-visas issued to Iranian and other foreign nationals from Iran, travelling to Iran on or after 1 February, and who have not yet entered India, are suspended with immediate effect.
In a second announcement, No. 75/A3/Health/2020-566, the department has announced that nationals from the following countries will undergo compulsory medical screening:
China
South Korea
Japan
Italy
Iran
Hong Kong
Macau
Taiwan
Singapore
Thailand
Malaysia
Vietnam
Indonesia
Nepal
For information about operations in India contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Changes to berthing guidelines at Visakhapatnam
Monday, March 2, 2020, Visakhapatnam
The Visakhapatnam Port Trust has announced in its Trade Circular number 1226 that Panamax vessels with 14m draft can be navigated with a tide of 0.5m in the Inner Harbour, East Quay side, West Quay side, EQ 8 & EQ 9, during night hours and favourable weather conditions, with immediate effect.
For information about operations in India contact GAC India at india@gac.com
Coronavirus: Vostochniy and Nakhodka port restrictions
Monday, March 2, 2020, Vostochniy & Nakhodka
According to information received from Sanitary Authorities at Nakhodka, the following restrictions have been implemented in the Russian ports Vostochniy and Nakhodka from 2 March:
Shore leave for all Chinese, South Korean, Italian and Iranian crew is prohibited
Shore leave for all crew or passengers arriving from China, South Korea, Italy or Iran is prohibited within 14 days from departure from those countries
For information about operations in Russia contact GAC Russia at russia@gac.com
Coronavirus: Disembarkation from cruise ships suspended
Monday, March 2, 2020, Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee & Hambantota
The Director General of Health Services has announced that disembarkation of passengers and crew members from cruise vessels will not be permitted until further notice at these ports. There will be no restrictions for docking and receiving other services by cruise vessels at ports.
GAC Sri Lanka is taking steps to ensure its staff are aware of the risk of COVID-19, symptoms, and best practices and measures to be taken to avoid infection.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Medical checkup for off signers
Monday, March 2, 2020, Mina Saqr, Khorfakkan, UAE
As advised by Saqr Port Immigration and Security department and Khorfakkan Port Authority, all off signer crew from alongside/ offshore vessels must go through medical checks conducted by the Health department. Once they have cleared the medical checks, then the immigration / customs clearance will be completed. In the event of any health concern raised by the Health department, the crew will have to return to the vessel.
All vessels are advised to wait in position until the crew has cleared the medical checks, otherwise they will have to return to pick up those crew who fail the medical checks.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, contact GAC Ras Al Khaimah and GAC Sharjah at rasalkhaimah@gac.com and sharjah@gac.com respectively.
COVID 2019: Russian port Vostochniy, Nakhodka restrictions
Monday, March 2, 2020, VostochVostochniy and Nakhodkaniy , Nakhodka, Russia
According to information received from the Sanitary Authorities at Nakhodka the following restrictions are implemented in Russian port Vostochniy and Nakhodka as of 2 March 2020:
– The shore leave for all Chinese, S. Korean, Italian and Iranian crew is prohibited.
– The shore leave for all crew or passengers who arrived Russia from China, S. Korea, Italy or Iran is prohibited within 14 days after departure from those countries.
