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 Organisation (IMO), World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 15 January 2021:
1. IMO
IMO has issued the following circular:
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Addendum no. 35/rev. 2 issued on 12 January 2021 provides a consolidated list of the IMO members that have so far notified IMO on their designation of seafarers as key workers. The full list is available on the
implementation page
2. IMO Crew Change - National Focal Point for Crew Change and Repatriation of Seafarers
As of today, the countries that have informed the IMO of the above are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu.
3. Government States
Following a request by France, the IMO circulated
IMO circ. 4234/add. 7, which provides for extension of a variety of certificates:
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Ships' certificates may be extended up to six months after the expiry of the state health emergency ending 10 July, 2020
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Flag endorsements and COP's may be extended up to six months after the expiry of the state health emergency ending 10 July, 2020
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STCW certificates may be extended up to the expiry of the state health emergency ending 16 February, 2021
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Medical certificates may be extended up to the expiry of the state health emergency ending 16 February, 2021
The Italian Coastguard has on 12 January 2021, circulated
provisions to postpone dry docking, should it prove impossible subject to satisfactory in-water bottom survey conducted.
On 7 January, the Department of Transportation issued an updated list of identified countries. If a foreign seafarer has a recent travel history to the identified countries, entry to the Philippines is prohibited, while Filipino seafarers with recent travel history to the identified countries are subject to quarantine restrictions.
The circular has since been updated several times - most lately
12 January.
Through
IMO circ. 4237/add. 18, Russia has shared provisions on the extension of certificates for 3 months should the certificates expire before the 1 April.
The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) announced on 11 January, the following enhanced crew change procedure effective as of the same date, of which punitive measure will be taken for non-compliance:
Sea launch transfer for ship crew
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All agents/owners shall charter the entire launch boat when performing crew change. There shall be no other personnel taking the same launch boat with the sign on/sign off crew.
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Crew shall remain in the vehicle/transport until the launch boat(s) is/are ready for boarding. Crew shall not be loitering at the pier for the launch boat.
Required personal protective equipment for personnel facilitating crew change
To further safeguard the Singapore local community against the spread of COVID-19 from 'outside', service providers and personnel that facilitate crew change in Singapore shall meet the minimum level of personal protective equipment (PPE) as prescribed below with effect from 12 January 2021:
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Meet-and-greet staff shall don surgical mask and gloves when escorting crew at the airport.
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Land transport drivers shall don full PPE (surgical mask, gloves, gown) when transporting crew between the airport and vessel.
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Launch boat operators shall down full PPE (surgical mask, gloves, gown) when transporting crew between the pier and vessel.
A reminder: to maintain proper hand hygiene (i.e. washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub before and after removing PPE
HOLDING AREAS AT MARINA SOUTH PIER AND WEST COAST PIER FOR CREW CHANGE
The Transnet National Ports Authority - being the operator of the commercial ports in South Africa - has issued
circular Notice 10 with safety measures for operating in South Africa. Importantly, the following operations are still allowed:
Further details on the safety measures are available in the said circular.
GAC Hot Port News reports that a negative test result is required not older than 72 hours before boarding a flight to USA.
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 :
You can also view all information on our
COVID-19 landing page.
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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media@xindemarine.com
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