World Holidays: 10-23 August 2014
COUNTRY: Worldwide
Public holidays around the world in the coming two weeks include the following:
- Mon 12 Aug – Queen’s Birthday (Thailand)
- Thu 14 Aug – Pakistan Independence Day
- Fri 15 Aug – Assumption of the Virgin Mary
- Fri 15 Aug – Indian Independence Day
- Fri 15 Aug – Republic of Congo Independence Day
- Sun 17 Aug – Indonesia National Day
- Thu 21 Aug – Ninoy Aquino Day (Philippines)
For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found under ‘GAC Worldwide’ at gac.com
Ebola virus precautions: US Coast Guard
August 09, 2014, United States, all ports
The US Coast Guard has issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin summarising precautions to be taken regarding the Ebola virus.
To date, there has been 1603 confirmed cases of individuals infected with the virus worldwide and 887 deaths. The epidemic is slowing Guinea but continues unabated in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Four cases have been reported in Nigeria.
The Center of Disease Control (CDC) has issued travel warnings, and personnel travelling to affected countries are strongly recommended to review travel alerts issued by the CDC prior to arrival. Travel information may be found at: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
Key points to remember concerning Ebola:
* Symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vominting and stomach pain. Skin rash, red eyes, and internal and external bleeding may be seen in some patients.
* Travelers could be infected if they come into contact with blood or body fluids from someone who is sick or has died from Ebola, sick wildlife, or eat from an infected animal. Health care providers caring for Ebola patients and family and friends in close contact with an ill person are at highest risk.
* Monitor your health for 21 days if you were in an area with an Ebola outbreak, especially if you were in contact with blood or body fluids, animals or raw meats, or hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated.
Vessel owners/operators and local stakeholders should be aware that:
* Vessel representatives must report sick or deceased crew or passengers within the last 15 days to the CDC under 42 CFR 71.21. Regional CDC quarantine station points of contact can be found at: www.cdc.gov/quarantine/QuarantineStationContactListFull.html
* The Coast Guard will review all Notice of Arrivals to determine if a vessel visited a country impacted by an Ebola virus outbreak within its last five ports of call.
* Vessel masters must inform any Coast Guard boarding teams if any ill crewmembers are on board.
* Local industry stakeholders, in partnership with their Coast Guard Captain of the Port, should review and be familiar with Section 5310 Procedures for Vessel Quarantine and Isolation, and Section 5320 Procedures for Security Segregation of Vessels in their Area Maritime Security Plan.
* Local industry stakeholders, in partnership with their Coast Guard Captain of the Port, should review and be familiar with their Marine Transportation System Recovery Plan.
Questions regarding this should be forwarded to the Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, Foreign and Offshore Vessel Division at 202-372-1218 or by email to CGCVC@uscg.mil
For information about operations in the USA contact GAC USA at usa@gac.com
GAC is a global provider of integrated shipping, logistics and marine services dedicated to helping customers achieve their strategic goals at the highest levels of quality, safety and compliance.
“Jo”
