- The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport.
- BIMCO provides the following update for the week ending Friday, 14 May 2021.
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO), reports BIMCO.
1. IMO
Addendum no. 39 to IMO circular letter no. 4204 issued on 7 May 2021 relating to communication from the Secretary-General on the crew change crisis.
2. IMO Crew Change – National Focal Point for Crew Change and Repatriation of Seafarers
As per our BIMCO news of 12th April, the IMO has discontinued the issue of the IMO circular in series: MSC.7/circ. 1 relating to government states informing the IMO of their national focal point for crew change and repatriation of seafarers. Instead, the IMO’s online Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) will be used to contain such information.
According to GISIS today, the list of countries informing the IMO of their national focal point of contact for crew change and repatriation of seafarers are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium (new), Brazil, Canada, the Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand (new), Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
3. Government States
Singapore
For all ships arriving at Singapore shipyards/process terminals/Marine & Process waterfront facilities for repair or conducting contact operations, the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has informed via their 7 May 2021 circular, that revised mandatory instructions from the Singapore Economic Development Board ( EDB) have been issued effective 7 May 2021. A brief of the heightened mandatory precautionary measures as follows:
- Pre-Arrival Criteria
a) No Crew Change within the past 21 days prior entering Singapore
b) No Shore leave or physical interaction with any overseas individuals other than own crew within the past 21 days prior entering Singapore
c) All crew must have negative Pre-Departure Swab Test results, taken at their last port call.Upon Arrival in Shipyard/Process Terminal/Marine & Process waterfront facilities
a) On arrival Swab and Serology (Total Ab or IgM+IgG) tests
b) Day 3, D7, D14 and D21 Swab tests - EDB’s approval must be sought before accepting any ships arriving or transiting through India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka into shipyards/process terminals/Marine & Process waterfront facilities in the past 21 days. Shipyards/process terminals/Marine & Process waterfront facilities are to work with ship agents, and email cco@edb.gov.sg with the header “EDB’s Approval required: Acceptance of Ships arriving from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka”.
- Process terminals must only conduct contactless operations or contactless operations with segregation regardless of the ship’s last port of call. These vessels should also conduct contactless operations in any port of call in the past 21 days prior entering Singapore.
USA
The US Coast Guard has advised via their update 7 to MSIB notice 02-20 ” COVID-19- Actions for Vessels, arriving in US Ports” , that for all vessels arriving or departing from any port in US to comply with the following
- Report immediately to the US Coast Gard Captain of the Port ( COTP) of any Illness of a person onboard any vessel that may adversely affect the safety of a vessel or port facility which is considered a hazardous condition per 33 C.F.R. § 160.216.
- Report to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of any sick or deceased crew/passengers during 15 days prior to arrival at the U.S. port.
- Guidance to vessels to report illness and death can be found at : Cargo vessels and cruise ships.
- With the issue of several Presidential Proclamations including that of US President Joe Biden’s of 21 January 2021, entitled “Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel”, entry restrictions to persons arriving from or through the following countries:
- Iran
- China ( excluding Hong Kong and Macau)
- The European states within the Schengen Area ( Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland)
- United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe)
- The Republic of Ireland
- The Federative Republic of Brazil
- The Republic of South Africa; and
- India
- Non-passenger Commercial vessels that have been to the countries noted above or embarked crewmembers from the countries noted above within the last 14 days, with no sick crewmembers, will be permitted to enter the U.S. and conduct normal operations,
- Non-passenger commercial vessels that have been to the countries noted above or embarked crewmembers from the countries noted above within the last 14 days, and do have sick crewmembers must report the illness per the requirements mentioned above and to expect delay.
4. BIMCO
BIMCO General COVID-19 Links
BIMCO is continuously monitoring COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the shipping industry in particular on crew changes. Below are some of the type of information currently being provided by BIMCO :
- Details about implementation measures imposed for sea transport
- Overview of challenges to crew mobility
- Overview of extensions and exceptions to seafarers’ certificates
- COVID-19 seafarers’ mental health
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Source : BIMCO
