Hot Port news from GAC
12-Mar-2020
NEW PORT TARIFFS
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
ON-ARRIVAL VISA FOR TOURISTS SUSPENDED
Sri Lanka
VISA RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO COVID-19
India
EXCEPTIONAL MEASURES ANNOUNCED
Kuwait
GUIDELINES AT SEAPORTS FOR PREVENTION OF SPREAD OF COVID-19
Philippines
DECLARATION BY MASTER FOR QUARANTINE PURPOSES
Torres Straits, Australia
WORKING INSTRUCTION FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Merak, Indonesia
HEALTH MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENT
Taiwan
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT
Pakistan
TEMPORARY DEFERMENT OF DISEMBARKATION OF FOREIGN PASSENGERS & CREW
Philippines
PREVENTING ENTRY OF COVID-19 THROUGH PORT
Ras Laffan, Qatar
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR PERSONS TRAVELLING FROM SCHENGEN AREA
United States
New port tariffs
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Transnet, South Africa’s National Ports Authority has issued the new port tariffs for Port Elizabeth for 2020-21, effective from 1 April.
For details of the new tariffs, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at shipping.capetown@gac.com
On-arrival visa for tourists suspended
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan Government has decided to temporarily suspend the On-Arrival-Visa facility for foreign tourists until further notice, as a measure to control the spread of coronavirus in the country.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Visa restrictions related to COVID-19
Thursday, March 12, 2020, India
The following visa restrictions are issued for implementation:
i. All existing visas issued to nationals of any country except those issued to Diplomats, Officials, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas stand suspended until April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020, at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India.
ii. Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid. They may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion etc of their visa or grant of any consular service if they choose to do so.
iii. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders shall be kept in abeyance until April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020, at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India.
iv. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reasons may contact the nearest Indian Mission for fresh visa.
v. All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from any destination and having visited China, Italy, Iran, republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany on or after February 15, 2020, shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020, at the port of departure of such travellers.
vi. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated Immigration Checkposts with robust medical screening facilities. These will be notified separately by Ministry of Hoe Affairs.
In addition to the above visa restrictions, the following travel advisory is hereby issued in accordance with instructions of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
i. Indian nationals presently abroad are advised to avoid non-essential travel. They are hereby informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days on their arrival in India.
ii. All Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. On their return they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in India, contact GAC India at india@gac.com)
Source: Government of India, Bureau of Immigration, Notice No.1/Comm/BoI/2020-81 dated 11 March 2020
Exceptional measures announced
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Kuwait
The Kuwait Government has taken a series of exceptional measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, halting commercial flights and sending public sector employees on a public holiday for two weeks starting from today (12 March) until 26 March.
Maritime navigation and normal operations at all oil terminals (Mina Al Ahmadi & Mina Abdulla) and commercial ports (Shuwaikh and Shuaiba) will continue as usual.
For information about operations in Kuwait, contact GAC Kuwait at kuwait@gac.com
Guidelines at seaports for prevention of spread of COVID-19
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Philippines
The Philippines Bureau of Quarantine [is] implementing the following measures at all seaports for all maritime vessels:
GENERAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES
All vessel officer and crew must have knowledge of the ship’s outbreak management plan.
All vessels must follow the World Health Organization interim guidance “Operational Considerations for Managing COVID-19 Cases/Outbreak On Board Ships” issued on February 24, 2020.
Waste disposal of vessels coming in from restricted territories or countries in the past 14 days are not allowed in Philippine ports.
GUIDELINES FOR CRUISE VESSELS
All cruise ships with passengers, regardless of nationality, from travel-restricted territories or countries or had passed through within the past 14 days are not allowed to dock at any Philippine port.
All cruise ships not calling on the ports of travel-restricted territories or countries within the last 14 days are allowed to dock in Philippine ports. They must undergo complete screening measures, submission of duly-accomplished Maritime Declaration of Health, and other pertinent documents related to COVID-19.
All cruise ships allowed to dock must declare all travel itineraries/excursions in the Philippines.
Vessel crew must conduct pre-boarding screening at the port of origin to prevent introduction of disease onboard. They must be trained to recognise signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (eg fever, cough, colds, shortage of breath, difficulty breathing, muscle cramps, abdominal pain and diarrhea). The master of the vessel must report immediately any occurrence of flu-like symptoms. In an even of flu-like manifestation arise, the master must immediately report to the Quarantine Medical Officer (QMO) for guidance on implementing infection prevention and control protocols to minimize the spread of infection on board.
The QMO will conduct triaging of case/s using current case definition.
No Filipinos are allowed to embark in any cruise ship going to travel-restricted territories or countries.
GUIDELINES FOR CARGO VESSELS
All vessels calling from travel-restricted territories or countries, regardless of 14 days incubation period of the disease, must be boarded at the quarantine anchorage.
Upon arrival at quarantine anchorage, the master of the vessel must hoist at its foremast the yellow flag and inform immediately the Quarantine station at assigned port through ship agents. Strictly no embarkation/disembarkation policy.
Quarantine Boarding formalities shall ensure – the master of the vessel shall submit a duly-accomplished Maritime Declaration of Health and other pertinent document and BOQ shall issue Free Pratique. The Custom, Immigration and Port State boarding formalities commence after issuance of Free Pratique.
Vessels cleared at the first port of entry and calling another local port, within 14 days of travel from restricted territories or countries, must be boarded at the designated Quarantine anchorage area by QMO, submit duly-accomplished Maritime Declaration of Health and other pertinent documents.
Vessel crew must be trained to recognize signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (eg fever, cough, colds, shortage of breath, difficulty breathing, muscle cramps, abdominal pain and diarrhea). The master of the vessel must report immediately any occurrence of flu-like symptoms. In an even of flu-like manifestation arise, the master must immediately report to the Quarantine Medical Officer (QMO) for guidance on implementing infection prevention and control protocols to minimize the spread of infection on board.
The QMO will conduct triaging of case/s using current case definition.
Ship agent of vessel with PUI situated in a non-competent port will arrange the immediate diversion of the vessel to the nearest competent port (Manila and Cebu) in the Philippine territory.
PUI in a competent port will be conducted to a dedicated hospital and the vessel will be declared as affected vessel. A confirmed laboratory result of case will commence a 14-day quarantine at the anchorage and hoist the Lima flag. Day zero starts at the conduction of the PUI. ON the 14th day, the QMO will board the vessel, examine the documents, muster the crew and issue a Free Pratique. The master of vessel may then lower down the yellow flag, and other formalities will commence.
(For further details and updates, or information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com)
Source: Philippines Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Health, Memorandum Circular No.2020-07
Declaration by Master for quarantine purposes
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Torres Straits, Australia
Torres Pilots Pty Ltd are requesting Masters of vessels to provide a declaration advising:
– If anyone onboard is displaying any flu like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, breathing difficulty, headache, nausea/vomiting or fever
– If any of the ship’s crew joined the vessel at a Chinese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese or South Korean port in the last 14 days
– If any of the ship’s crew went ashore and re-joined the vessel at a Chinese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese or South Korean port in the last 14 days
– If anyone on board has visited or had contact with anyone from the Hubei province in China over the past 14 days
– If the vessel departed any Chinese or South Korean port within the last 14 days (if so, advise name of port and date of departure).
This declaration must be emailed to the Torres Pilots at operations@torrespilots.com.au as soon as possible.
Torres Pilots will not embark a marine pilot onboard a vessel within the 14-day quarantine period from departure of declared high risk countries; China & South Korea.
If any crew member develops the above symptoms prior to the boarding of the marine pilot, the Master must advise Torres Pilots immediately.
Any undeclared symptoms of the virus which are subsequently identified after the port pilot has boarded could cause Government Quarantine, Immigration or Health Departments to apply restrictions and cause delays of up to 14 days.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com
Working instruction for COVID-19 prevention and control
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Merak, Indonesia
Following precautions are taken and reviewed regularly for necessary adjustments:
Everyone (employees and all visitors including truck drivers and surveyors) must pass the body temperature check at the entry gate. Security guard will record the temperatures to facilitate tracking if necessary. Anyone with a body temperature equal or above 37.5 deg C and/or flu/col like symptoms will not be allowed to enter the terminal and will be advised to take necessary steps such as returning home or consulting medical advice.
Anyone feeling unwell or showing flu/cold like symptoms during work will be asked to leave the terminal and stay at home and consult medical advice.
Vopak Terminal Merak has restricted both business and personal travel especially to the endemic areas (WHO list). Any trip requires prior approval from the direct supervisor of the employee. At this moment such approval is only granted on an exceptional basis.
Any audit or visit involving overseas guests will be postponed where possible and in case of visitors from any of the affected countries (WHO list), additional measures such as prior self-quarantine, tracking o travel/contact history will be applied. Therefore, please advise any plan visiting our terminal at least 7 days in advance.
Avoid attending or conducting events with more than 10 persons. Telephone/video conferencing is a recommended solution during this period of time.
On the operational side:
a. Every vessel must declare in writing it is free from COVID-19 and the jetty master must follow mitigation (PPE, distance, not eating food and drink from the vessel).
b. During the ship pre-arrival meeting, Vopak Terminal Merak have to inform the ship agent or customer to ensure that all ship crews are always using proper PPE during loading/unloading process at the jetty. Ship agent or customer should provide the required documents, especially for the international sailing
– the last 10 voyages of the vessel/ship
– Marine Health Declaration from the last port.
c. Quarantine process should be done at the anchorage area. If it is not possible because of safety reasons, i.e. bad weather, big waves, etc, then the quarantine office will send the notification to the CCR regarding the possibility of a quarantine process at the Vopak Terminam Merak’s jetty.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Indonesia, contact PT Andhika GAC at shipping.indonesia@gac.com)
Source: Extract from PT Vopak Terminal Merak letter dated 10 March 2020
Health management requirement
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Taiwan
From 11 March, all personnel entering Taiwan from the Level 1 and 2 countries (listed below) must implement autonomous health management for 14 days.
Level 3 – WARNING: Avoid all unnecessary travel
China (including Hong Kong and Macao), South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Level 2 – ALERT:
Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, Spain, Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Austria.
Level 1 – WATCH:
Thailand, Greece, Czech, Portugal, Finland, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein United Kingdom and Ireland.
According to harbour immigration policy, no shore pass will be issued for vessels with previous port calls to “country with travel notice level 3” in the previous 14 days. — (China (Hong Kong & Macau), South Korea, Italy and Iran.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Taiwan, contact GAC Taiwan at taiwan@gac.com
Medical certificate requirement
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan Ministry of Maritime Affairs (Ports & Shipping wing) has advised that port terminal operators and associated private companies must furnish medical certificates from the Port Health Officer, Karachi, declaring foreigners coming from 99 countries worldwide as virus free, while applying for NOCs for visiting port areas.
For further details, the full list of countries whose nationals must produce their medical certificates and information about operations in the Pakistan, contact GAC Pakistan at pakistan@gac.com
Temporary deferment of disembarkation of foreign passengers & crew
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Philippines
In line with the recent announcement of World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the COVID-19 as global pandemic and of Department of Health (DOH) raising the alert level to Code Red sublevel 1, and to eliminate the risk of possible exposure of the general public to the aforesaid virus, all disembarkation of foreign passengers and crew from cargo and cruise vessels, including visitors and supernumeraries are hereby temporarily deferred until further notice.
In addition, the proliferation of COVID-19 in different vessels such as MV Diamond Princess from Japan and MV Grand Princess from California reveals that it poses high threat to public safety and health. Thus, this supports the aforementioned temporary deferment.
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at philippines@gac.com)
Source: Republic of Philippines Bureau of Immigration note dated 12 March 2020
Preventing entry of COVID-19 through port
Thursday, March 12, 2020, Ras Laffan, Qatar
Ras Laffan Port is placing NO restrictions to ships to call to the Port from the various global ports including WHO list of affected countries.
Ship crew change is subject to issuance of transit visas by immigration authorities. Joining crew cleared through Hamad International Airport are allowed to board without any further health screening. Crew sign-off from ships is permissible subject to early notice and considered on a case-by-case basis after advice from national health bodies.
Ras Laffan Port management is dedicated to the smooth running of the port and share stakeholders’ concern about the coronavirus outbreak. We will continue reviewing advice from national health bodies and advise updated measures and precautions should the guidelines change.
(For information about operations in Qatar, contact GAC Qatar at qatar@gac.com)
Source: Extract from Qatar Petroleum Notice No. VI/R/IP(L)/20/111/0-31 dated 12 March 2020
Travel restrictions for persons travelling from Schengen Area
Thursday, March 12, 2020, United States
Yesterday (11 March), President Trump President Trump announced a 30-day travel restriction on all persons traveling to the US who have been in the Schengen Area nations within the 14 days prior to their travel.
This restriction is effective as of 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, 13 March 2020 (03:59 AM UTC, Saturday, 14 March). It does not apply to persons already aboard a flight scheduled to arrive to the US that departed prior to the effective time/date.
Of particular relevance to the maritime industry is that this ban will NOT apply to crew scheduled to join a vessel in the United States who have been in a Schengen Area nation in the 14 days prior to their arrival to the US. Section 2(a)(vii) states that this proclamation shall not apply to “any alien traveling as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D nonimmigrant visa as a crewmember or any alien otherwise traveling to the United State as air or sea crew.”
To assist with any planned crew movements for vessels in the US during this period, please contact your assisting GAC North America office to have a Letter of Invitation issued to facilitate the arrival of your joining crew.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at usa@gac.co
