Following the recent regional outbreaks of Covid-19 in China, various ports have tightened up epidemic control. We have summarized below the current situation at various Chinese ports for your kind reference.
General situation
Generally, all ports are still operating. Due to enhanced epidemic control measures, some ports are congested to different extents. Since a special designated team, which consists of terminal staff, pilot, surveyor, etc. and has to be quarantined for 14 days after a period of service, needs to be arranged for international trading vessels especially vessels considered to have high epidemic risks on board, there is a shortage of pilots at some ports, thus vessels' berthing and departing may be delayed.
Crew shore leave is generally still forbidden. Shore personnel's boarding is restricted, if not completely disallowed.
Asian Gypsy Moth ("AGM") Certificates
In China, the authorized issuer of AGM certificate is China Certification & Inspection Company (“CCIC”). Currently, due to restricted boarding of shore personnel, at all the ports in Liaoning province such as Dalian, Panjin, Bayuquan, CCIC cannot attend on board for inspection or issue the certificates recently. In Shandong province, at most ports such as Qingdao, Rizhao, Weihai, etc., AGM certificate can still be obtained. For the ports along the Yangtze River, currently, the certificate can be obtained at Shanghai, Zhangjiagang and Nanjing, but it may be difficult at other ports.
Court activities
Courts have adopted various measures to deal with the challenges raised by the pandemic. Remote court hearings are arranged for some cases if needed. Applications for suspension of the limitations and extension of time as provided by law may be granted by the court depending on circumstances of each individual case.
Vaccination program for crewmembers on international sailing vessels
Currently, there is no vaccination program offered to crewmembers on international sailing vessels. There is no requirement in terms of vaccination status for crewmembers on international sailing vessel, either, although for Chinese crewmembers that are newly signed on, vaccination is generally required before their joining on board at most ports.
Vessel arrival requirements, crew change and crew medical requests
Liaoning province (Dalian, Bayuquan, Jinzhou, Dandong)
For Dalian, Bayuquan, Jinzhou, Dandong port, local port operator or manager, and the customs /immigration authorities usually require incoming vessel to declare and provide a temperature monitoring table for all crew members covering the previous 21days prior to the ship's berthing, together with a health declaration form for all the crew members. Some terminals may require the ship's itinerary in the past 28 days, crew boarding time and location, etc., as well as letter of declaration to confirm that no crew will disembark or to confirm that no accompanying persons and/or illegal immigrant are on board the vessel. There is no standard declaration form required by all the ports. In other words, each port operator may determine its own form of declaration, and the form will be sent by the shipping agent to the Master for completion before/ after the vessel's arrival.
At Bayuquan, the latest LOC requested by the port is said to be to confirm the vessel's acceptance of un-berthing in the event that a Covid-19 positive case is confirmed on board. PCR Test is required to be carried out on all international incoming vessels / crewmembers.
Pilotage requirements: each pilot is required to take PCR test after each pilotage service, and can continue with his next pilotage service after the PCR test result has been confirmed negative. At several ports of Dalian, as the traffic boat is not available for transporting the pilots and only tugs are available, the pilotage service may be slower than before.
Green medical care channels remain open to seafarers with serious injury or life-threatening illness. There have been reports that in some of recent Covid-19 positive confirmed cases, disembarkation of the positive seafarer for medical care and repatriation was not permitted at several ports of Dalian, Bayuquan, etc. Specific request is considered on a case by case basis.
Change of foreign crew is not allowed by local port authorities and there has been no successful case recently. Change of Chinese seafarers could be permitted on a case by case basis, and if allowed the joining crew must have been vaccinated.
Tianjin
Basically, a case by case policy is applied in Tianjin and any particular restrictions will depend on the relevant information declared to the authority. If the vessel comes from India, she will be allowed to berth after a minimum of 14 days have lapsed since her departure from India.
At some terminals, the pilotage might not be arranged during night time for high risk vessels.
Seafarers are able to receive medical treatment for both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 issues.
Crew change requirements are as follows:
For onsigners:
(1) For Chinese crew:
· NAT report within 48 hours
· Vaccinated
· Holding green healthy code
(2) For foreign crew:
· Vessel should have departed from the last foreign port more than 21 days ago.
· Onsigners should hold valid Chinese visa and application for crew change should be forwarded to agent around 20 days before the ship arrival at Tianjin port.
· Onsigners should arrive at Tianjin in advance and take 14 days quarantine isolation at designated hotels.
· Onsigners should enter China from Tianjin airport; other airports such as Shanghai/Beijing are not allowed.
· Negative nucleic acid test report and 14 days health record report are required.
· Onsigners must board the vessel on the 15th day after quarantine isolation, otherwise they must fly back home on the 15th day.
For offsigners:
(1) For Chinese crew:
· NAT negative
· isolation at designated hotel for 14 days after disembarkation
(2) For foreign crew:
· Vessel should have departed from her last foreign port more than 14 days ago and the body temperature record should be normal.
· Submit offsigners' application and off signer's information (including flight details) to port authority 2 days before ship's arrival.
· Offsigners must take 2 times PCR tests (1 time arranged by Custom officer, 1 time arranged by agent) after ship's berthing. The test results will be available in 2 working days. Before getting PCR test negative result, the vessel will not be allowed to commence cargo operations.
· After disembarking from vessel, the offsigners must go to Tianjin airport directly and fly from Tianjin airport directly to an overseas country within the same day and there must not be any stopping at any other Chinese airports. (Transportation to Tianjin airport for offsigners will be arranged by the government). The Exit Visa will be exempted.
· Offsigners' flight departure time should be earlier than vessel's departure time from Tianjin.
· The crew change should be agreed by the concerned terminal.
Caofeidian:
If any Indian element is involved, the vessel will only be allowed to berth after 28 days have lapsed since her departure from the last port. Pilotage will not be arranged during night time if the period between the vessel's departure from her last calling port and its arrival is less than 14 days.
A seafarer who is COVID-19 positive is not permitted to disembark. As for seafarers who are COVID-19 negative, the local authorities might not permit them to go ashore to receive medical treatment unless it is a life-threatening situation.
Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted. For offsigners, the ship must have left her last port more than 28 days ago. For onsigners, NAT report within 48 hours as well as having received vaccination and holding green healthy code will be required.
Jingtang:
If any Indian element is involved, the vessel will only be allowed to berth after 21 days have lapsed since her departure from the last port of call. Pilotage will not be arranged during night time if the period between the vessel's departure from last calling port and its arrival is less than 14 days.
A seafarer who is COVID-19 positive is not permitted to disembark. As for seafarers who are COVID-19 negative, the local authorities might not permit them to go ashore to receive medical treatment unless it is a life-threatening situation.
Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted. For offsigners, the ship must have left her last port more than 28 days ago. For onsigners, NAT report within 48 hours as well as having received vaccination and holding green healthy code will be required.
Qingdao:
If the vessel has called any Indian port or changed Indian crewmembers within the past 21 days before her arrival, PCR test will be conducted to the whole crew. For Dongjiakou terminal, if the vessel has called any Indian port or changed Indian crewmembers, PCR test will be arranged. Before the test results are available, cargo operation cannot be commenced.
Generally, Covid-19 positive crewmembers are allowed to disembark for shore treatment. But if the number of positive crewmembers is large, the authorities may refuse disembarkation. For urgent medical need, the authorities usually will approve the shore treatment request and render cooperation in terms of repatriation.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed. Signing off of foreign crewmembers is possible on condition that they leave the country directly. Signing-on of foreign crewmembers is more difficult due to visa problem.
Longkou
If the vessel has changed crew within the past 14 days, the authorities will consider their requirements on a case by case basis. If the crew change was arranged in high risks countries such as India, Russia, etc., sometimes the authorities may ask the vessel to wait at the anchorage until 14 days have elapsed since the crew change before she can be berthed. For these vessels, the customs will decide whether to arrange PCR tests to the crew taking into consideration of the particular circumstances.
If the vessel has called any India port or changed Indian crew within the past 28 days, the customs will attend on board and conduct PCR tests.
In recent Covid-19 crew cases, the authorities agreed to disembark the crewmember for medical treatment. For urgent medical need, the authorities generally agree crew to visit doctor ashore.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed. For onsigning Chinese crewmembers, vaccination is required.
Rizhao (including Lanshan)
If the vessel's last port of call is India, the authorities usually require her to wait in the outer anchorage until 21 days have elapsed since her departure from the Indian port. After berthing, contactless cargo operation shall be arranged. Usually, the customs will not attend on board for PCR tests.
For vessels that have changed crew within the last 14 days, the customs will decide whether to conduct PCR test to the crew on a case by case basis.
Usually, the Covid-19 positive crewmembers are allowed to go ashore for medical treatment. In some cases, if the crewmember is asymptomatic, the authorities may ask the crewmember to return to vessel before her departure. For urgent medical need, the authorities generally agree the crew to visit doctor ashore.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Yantai
If the vessel has called an Indian port or changed with Indian crew within the last 28 days, all the crew will receive PRC tests. Before the test results are available, no cargo operation is allowed.
Usually the Covid-19 positive crewmembers are allowed to go ashore for medical treatment. For urgent medical need, the authorities generally agree the crew to visit doctor ashore.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Lianyungang
If the vessel has called a high risk area or country within the last 21 days, all the crew will receive PRC tests. Before the test results are available, no cargo operation is allowed. “High risk areas or countries” include but not limited to: India, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
Usually the Covid-19 positive crewmembers are allowed to go ashore for medical treatment. For urgent medical need, the authorities generally agree the crew to visit doctor ashore.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Weihai
For vessel arrival requirements, the authorities will consider the situation on a case by case basis.
Usually the Covid-19 positive crewmembers are allowed to go ashore for medical treatment. For urgent medical need, the authorities generally agree the crew to visit doctor ashore.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Shidao
The authorities will consider the situation on a case by case basis.
Usually the Covid-19 positive crewmembers are allowed to go ashore for medical treatment. For urgent medical need, the authorities generally agree the crew to visit doctor ashore.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Shanghai
Now there are 11 countries that are considered as “high risk country” which include India, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Russia (this list of countries may keep changing based on their updated situation of COVID-19). If a vessel once called any port in one of the above 11 countries or had crew change within one month, the terminal may require disinfection on board before cargo operation.
The pilot station, terminal, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
Seafarers can receive medical treatment ashore and usually they will need to return to the vessel before the vessel's departure. For serious cases, special application and coordination with related authorities are needed. COVID-19 positive crew can be disembarked for medical treatment if the vessel carries out repair work in Shanghai.
Chinese crew change can be arranged. Foreign crew can be disembarked at Shanghai upon special approval in advance.
Nantong
The local authorities will assess the risk of the vessel such that some vessels may need to wait for 21, 28 or 30 days (counting from the day she departed from her last port or the day of last crew change) before she is permitted to get berthed.
The pilot station, terminal side, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
The non-COVID-19 medical treatment can be arranged and for COVID-19 cases, it depends on owner's intention. For your guidance, if owners want to arrange a COVID-19 positive crew to be disembarked at this port, owners may face claims such as terminal's claim on their operational loss during waiting for getting this crew member disembarked, etc.).
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Taicang
If the vessel has carried out crew change, and the new crew member once lived in or visited the above 11 countries within 21 days, the vessel can only be berthed in Taicang 21 days after the crew change.
If the vessel once called any port in any one of the above 11 countries within 21 days, no matter whether there is any crew change or not, the vessel also can only be berthed in Taicang 21 days after the vessel's departure from that port.
If the vessel meets one of the above conditions, all the crew on board will have to undergo PCR test after the vessel has berthed and no cargo operation will be allowed before the PCR test result becomes available.
The pilot station, terminal side, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
The non-COVID-19 medical treatment can be arranged.
Changing of Chinese crewmembers is allowed, whilst changing of foreign crew is not.
Zhangjiagang
If the vessel once called any port in one of the above 11 countries, she can only be berthed 21 days after the vessel departs from that port.
If the vessel once called other epidemic area, she can only get berthed 14 days after the vessel's departure from that port.
If the vessel has crew change within the past 30 days, all the crew on board is required to undergo PCR test after vessel gets berthed.
The pilot station, terminal side, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
Unless the crew's injury/illness is quite serious, it will be quite difficult to arrange the crew to get disembarked for medical treatment ashore.
No crew change could be arranged at this port recently.
Jiangyin
If the crew on board once lived in or visited the above 11 countries within 21 days, or if the vessel once called any port in one of the above 11 countries within 21 days, all the crew on board will be required to undergo PCR test after vessel gets berthed. No cargo operation will be allowed before the PCR test result becomes available.
The pilot station, terminal side, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
Unless the crew's injury/illness is quite serious, it will be quite difficult to arrange the crew to get disembarked for medical treatment ashore.
No crew change could be arranged at this port recently.
Changzhou/Zhenjiang
Any vessel coming from India is unlikely to get berthed until 21 days after departing from India have elapsed.
The pilot station, terminal side, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
Unless the crew's injury/illness is quite serious, it will be quite difficult to arrange the crew to be disembarked for medical treatment ashore.
Only Chinese crew change is permitted.
Nanjing
If there is crew change within 14 days, or if the vessel once called any port in one of the above 11 countries within 21 days before arriving at China, all the crew on board will be required to undergo PCR test after vessel gets berthed. No cargo operation will be allowed before the PCR test result becomes available.
The pilot station, terminal side, local agent can only arrange “designated team” for any work on board. And this “designated team” shall be approved by local authorities. Other persons are not allowed to attend on board.
Unless the crew's injury/illness is quite serious, it will be quite difficult to arrange the crew to be disembarked for medical treatment ashore.
Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted.
Ningbo and Zhoushan
Ningbo: If Ningbo is the first port of call in China after signing on Indian crew and/or calling Indian ports within 35 days before arrival at Ningbo, the new onsigners or all the crew members onboard may be tested for COVID-19 after arrival at Ningbo port.
For seafarers with either COVID-19 or Non-COVID-19 disease, if there is no serious health risk, they are not allowed to go ashore for medical treatment in principle. The authorities of Zhoushan would instruct the vessel to sail with the seafarer who has only mild symptoms on board. If the seafarer with acute symptom caused by COVID-19 or other disease is disembarked at Zhoushan, the vessel would usually not be allowed to leave Zhoushan before the disembarked seafarer returns to the vessel due to seafarer's repatriation is not permitted at Zhoushan.
Only Chinese crew members will be allowed for changing at both Ningbo and Zhoushan. Chinese off-signers will be quarantined for 14 days at least at local quarantine hotel after their disembarkation.
Ports in Guangxi (including Qinzhou/Beihai/Fengcheng)
No special requirement and vessels shall send relevant documents/information to local authorities via local agent before vessels' arrival.
A seafarer with COVID-19 is permitted to receive medical treatment. As for seafarers who are COVID-19 negative, local authorities might not permit a shore medical treatment unless it is a life-threatening situation.
Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted.
Guangzhou/Shenzhen
No special requirement and vessels shall send relevant documents/information to local authorities via local agent before vessels' arrival.
A seafarer with COVID-19 is permitted to receive medical treatment. As for seafarers who are COVID-19 negative, local authorities might not permit a shore medical treatment unless it is a life-threatening situation.
Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted.
Zhanjiang
No special requirement and vessel shall send relevant documents/information to local authorities via local agent
Depending on the type of COVID-19, in principle, a seafarer with COVID-19 is permitted to receive medical treatment ashore. However, Delta variant infected cases may not be permitted to go ashore. As for seafarers who are COVID-19 negative, local authorities may not permit medical treatment ashore unless it is a life threatening issue.
Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted.
Xiamen
Policy varies from ship to ship in that PCR test will be applicable to those ships which have called the high risk areas and had crew change abroad.
Crew medical treatment request is generally approved. Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted.
Fuzhou
The authorities will organize a meeting to assess the ship's situation and determine whether disinfection of the ship and PCR test to all crews are required.
Crew medical treatment request is generally approved. Only changing of Chinese crew is permitted.
Source: Oasis P&I
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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