Hot Port News from GAC
09-Jun-2020
SUMMER WORKING HOURS AT PETROLEUM PORTS
Jebel Dhana/Ruwais, United Arab Emirates
EXTENSION OF TRAVEL BAN
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
NEW QUARANTINE RULES
United Kingdom
CREW CHANGES FOR DOMESTIC CREW
Malaysia
CHANGE FOR CHINESE CREW
China
CREW CHANGE FOR “NON-CARGO OPERATION” VESSELS
Hong Kong
CREW CHANGE PROCEDURES
Japan
CREW CHANGES FOR FOREIGN SEAFARERS (UPDATE)
Colombo & Galle, Sri Lanka
FLIGHTS RE-OPENED WITH NEW RESTRICTIONS
Indonesia
DISEMBARKATION OF SAUDI SEAFARERS
Saudi Arabia
VESSEL STERILIZATION
Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Summer working hours at petroleum ports
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Jebel Dhana/Ruwais, United Arab Emirates
To avoid operational delays at Jebel Dhaba/Ruwais during the summer working hours restricted time between 1230 and 1500 hours, pilots will board vessels at Ghasha pilot station before 0830 hours or after 1230 hours. Vessels are requested to plan their ETA accordingly.
Further, cargo loading/discharge operations should be adjusted in sufficient time to void unberthing during the restricted time.
Summer working hours without petroleum ports applies only to berthing/unberthing operations when riggers are required to work on open decks for connection and disconnection.
For information about operations in Abu Dhabi, contact GAC Abu Dhabi at abudhabi@gac.com
Extension of travel ban
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The ban on travel within the regions in Emirate of Abu Dhabi has been extended for a further week, effective from today (9 June).
The ban includes all residents, including UAE Nationals. Exemptions are available by special permit for employees in vital sectors, chronic disease patients visiting hospitals and the transportation of necessary goods. Residents may move within their region in line with National Sterilisation Programme timings.
This could cause delays in the transfer of Individuals/documents/parcels/ spares/provisions between the Ruwais/Jebel Dhanna and Abu Dhabi city.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Abu Dhabi, contact GAC Abu Dhabi at abudhabi@gac.com
New quarantine rules
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, United Kingdom
New quarantine rules that require anyone arriving into the UK to self-isolate for 14 days came into effect yesterday (8 June).
The rules apply to anyone arriving into the UK by land, sea or air. This means both on-signers and off-signers if a vessel has been outside of the 12NM UK maritime border. However, there are exemptions for this for the maritime industry which we have outlined below.
Seafarers are exempt from having to self-isolate, but must fill in a form online https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk no earlier than 48 hours before arriving or departing the UK.
The full list of exemptions can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules
Individuals will need to provide journey and contact details in the link above.
If a person qualifies as per the exemption list, they should not need to self-isolate for 14 days.
Travellers need to have the completed form on them (printed or on phone) to show at Border Force. If a person works on a ship, they need to show a Seafarers Identification Document (SID) if they have one. If they do not have a SID, they can show joining papers, seafarer’s employment agreement or a seafarer’s discharge book (Continuous Certificate of Discharge) instead. Alternatively, they could show a basic training certificate or declaration from the registered owners of the vessel that they are a crew member.
If an inspector or surveyor of ships is appointed under section 256 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 they are exempt. They will need to provide journey and contact details and should not need to self-isolate for 14 days. They should show a Seafarers Identification Document (SID) if they have one. If they don’t have a SID, they can show joining papers, seafarer’s employment agreement or a seafarer’s discharge book (Continuous Certificate of Discharge) instead.
Workers involved in maintenance and essential support services for offshore oil and gas infrastructure in the UK, and those with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works to ensure the continued safe and secure operations of generating stations, gas or electricity transmission or distribution networks, electricity interconnectors, gas terminals or district or communal heat networks, are also exempt. They will need to show a letter from their company at the border which includes:
– personal details, such as name and address
– contact details for employer
– explanation of work to be carried out
Project crew/company visitors travelling from outside the UK that are not departing with the vessel but just visiting whilst alongside will not be classed as exempt personnel unless they qualify as listed in the UK Government exemptions list.
Project Crew departing with the vessel, if classed as essential workers per the guidance, will qualify for exemption and will not be required to self-isolate but will be required to fill out the online form.
These quarantine rules have been specifically introduced due to COVID-19 and are not to be confused with other UK Immigration laws.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at uk@gac.com
Crew changes for domestic crew
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Malaysia
Crew changes are permitted for Malaysian crew at all ports in the country. Foreign crew changes are permitted for medical and emergency cases only, and should comply with safe manning and also subject to prior approval from Port Health and Head of immigration.
For vessels calling at ports, notice of arrival must be sent to Port Health Office together with crew list, voyage memo, vaccination list, maritime declaration of health and daily temperature report. Upon arrival, Port Health officer will on board vessel first for arrival clearance and screening all crew. Once free pratique is issued, other authorities may board.
For further details, specifics for individual ports and updates, as well as information about operations in Malaysia, contact GAC Malaysia at shipping.malaysia@gac.com
Change for Chinese crew
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, China
Foreign crew and superintendents are not allowed in China, but Chinese crew can change at the country’s ports.
Chinese surveyor/superintendents can attend ships at public terminal of below ports: Tianjin; Rizhao; and the ports of the Yangtze River. However, this policy may be subject to change.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in China, contact GAC China at china@gac.com
Crew change for “non-cargo operation” vessels
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Hong Kong
The procedure for “non-cargo operation” vessels in Hong Kong is as follows:
On-signers must arrive Hong Kong when vessel is at berth (anchorage/ terminal). Early arrival is also acceptable, but require crews to stay in hotel in the meantime.
Off-signers must disembark and transfer to perform immigration formalities then to airport directly.
Off-signers must obtain valid flight ticket and only on the day of disembarkation, (on the same day as processing immigration formalities).
Seamen whose birthplace is stated as HUBEI are not allowed to sign on/off.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at shipping.hongkong@gac.com
Crew change procedures
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Japan
Visitors from abroad may still not enter Japan and crew changes are only acceptable on the basis of the below.
On-signing crew at Japanese ports must:
– gave a PCR test carried out by a Quarantine Officer upon arrival at airport
– be quarantined in authorised accommodation until the result is confirmed (a few days).
Once confirmed negative of only COVID-19, crews will be released and able to connect to their vessel. Further hotel accommodation use and/or public transportation use should be avoided.
Off-signers can disembark from their vessel if 14 days have passed since departing their last port. As with on-signers, hotel accommodation and/or public transportation use should be avoided.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Japan, contact GAC Japan at tokyo@gac.com
Crew changes for foreign seafarers (update)
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Colombo & Galle, Sri Lanka
The process for conducting crew changes via commercial flights for foreign seafarers has been formally approved and the government has appointed a Private Public Partnership (PPP) to assist ship agents in this regard for operating domestic transport, PCR testing & Isolation Centres.
The new process will include PCR tests to be conducted for all foreign crew members, accommodating at an isolation centre (hotel approved by the Ministry of Health) until the results are received and onward repatriation via sea/airport to vessel or departure flight.
Below is a summary of the critical aspects which has to be strictly followed during the process:
Currently 120 foreign seafarers are allowed in Sri Lanka at any given time.
As of now, crew changes are permitted at Colombo & Galle ports only. We shall keep you posted once the government open up for crew changes at other ports (Trincomalee / Hambantota) as well.
Prior notice of 72 hours is mandatory for any seafarer embarking/disembarking at any Sri Lankan port along with the required documents. It is, however, preferable to receive information at earliest possible as the accommodation capacity at isolation centres is limited.
As per advise received from the PPP, it would take 24-48 hours to complete the transfer process of an on-signer to the port upon landing and for an off-signer to the airport upon disembarkation.
Upon arrival at Sri Lanka, on-signers may stay up to 5 days & off-signers up to 7 days in Sri Lanka awaiting the arrival of vessel/departure flight.
Signing-on crew arriving by commercial flights are required to undergo a PCR test within the preceding 5 days to the flight departure and with a negative result.
Signing-off crew from the ship to be certified by vessel Master for not having fever or other COVID-19 symptoms.
Crew members to stay at an Isolation Centre pending results from PCR test (Isolation Centre would be a hotel approved by the Ministry of Health with WiFi & related amenities on full-board basis).
The PPP requires 100% advance funding prior to undertaking the crew change.
GAC will facilitate and coordinate this entire process on your behalf in Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, execution of bulk crew changes via chartered flights and emergency medical evacuations is currently allowed. Approvals will be given on a case-by-case basis.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at srilanka@gac.com
Flights re-opened with new restrictions
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Indonesia
The Indonesian Government has reopened flights with new normal procedures in the COVID-19 pandemic era. Passengers from abroad must provide PCR test results before boarding.
Indonesian citizens who arrive from abroad and have negative PCR results for COVID-19 could be given permission to continue traveling to the area of origin. Passengers without these documents will be asked to do additional tests upon arrival. While waiting for the results, they will be quarantined by the government.
The cost of the hotel and the PCR test will be covered by the passengers themselves, not the government.
Domestic and international flights are still available only at Cengkareng International Airport, whist Batam airport is only for domestic flight & cargo.
Crew changes are possible at Nipah, Galang and Tanjung Balai Karimun only.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Indonesia, contact Andhika GAC at shipping.indonesia@gac.com
Disembarkation of Saudi seafarers
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Saudi Arabia
Saudi seafarers working onboard ships are permitted to disembark in Saudi ports, provided that they meet all requirements for health precautions and preventive measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Saudi Arabia, contact GAC Saudi Arabia at dammam@gac.com
Vessel sterilization
Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
MAWANI Saudi Ports Authority has advised that vessels calling at the port of Yanbu are to sterilize all the areas used by port, agent, surveyor & coastguard boarding the vessel, before & after their arrival/departure.
Vessels are also required to maintaining distances, avoid crew gathering, and ensure the wearing of safety gear such as mask and gloves, etc.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Yanbu, contact GAC Saudi Arabia at yanbu@gac.com
