BIMCO provides weekly updates to members about COVID-19 implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport, including for crew change, as well as updates from United Nations bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
This BIMCO update is for the week ending Friday, 27 August 2021.
IMO
The below circulars represent the latest information to-date from the IMO.
- Addendum no.4/Rev.3 to IMO circular no. 4204, issued on 16 July 2021, providing a further update to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)’s guidance for ship operators relating to the protection of the health of seafarers.
- Addendum no. 35/rev. 7 , issued on 20 May 2021, provides a consolidated list of the IMO members that have so far notified IMO on their designation of seafarers as key workers. The list is shown below:
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, Brazil, Canada, the Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore (new), Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand , Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
Earlier reference of the MSC.7/circ.1 : our implementation page.
Government States
Please see the latest update as at 23 August provided by Shipping Australia Limited with regard to COVID-19 restrictions impacting the maritime industry at Australian ports.
Notwithstanding that there have been reports where Chinese ports have banned the entry of ships with Indian seafarers due to concerns on the Delta variant type, the North P&I club advised that there is no official policy to support this based on confirmation received from their Shanghai P&I counterpart.
The Chinese ports are however adopting strict COVID-19 measures against ” high risk” ships whereby local authorities have discretion on how to implement the appropriate measures such as instructing the ship await in anchorage until the ship and crew complete the necessary self-quarantine.
An update of these measures in place at the various Chinese ports has been provided by Huatai Marine as at 18 August 2021. Oasis P&I club has also issued their circular dated 25 August 2021 providing updates on Chinese ports due to the recent regional outbreaks of COVID-19 in the country.
Please see the latest exemption conditions and quarantine arrangements for ships entering Hong Kong effective 20 August 2021.
According to Wilhelmsen, all ships calling at an Oman port, terminal or offshore installation, shall submit the following documents to the Port ( Health, Safety and Environment section/officer) 12 hours before arrival:
- The maritime declaration of health form
- Last 10 ports of call list
- List of all passengers and crew members with temperature above 37.5 degree Celsius
- Crew list/passenger list (shall include the date and place that each crew joined the ship and countries they came from for joining the ship) and
- Current copy of Ship Sanitation Control (or exemption) certificate (s)
- Ships will be inspected by Health Authorities, after getting approval and free pratique from health authorities, the vessel will be granted permission to conduct cargo operations
- Health Declaration 72/48/24/12/6 hour from ship is mandatory before entering port limits
With effect from 1st September, it will be mandatory for all individuals entering the port including port staff and port users to show evidence of being vaccinated as a prerequisite to entering Port of Salalah premises. Failure to show evidence of being vaccinated will result in a ban from entering the port premises until shown otherwise.
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
