COVID-19 Coronavirus

This page includes links and articles of general interest and will be updated when relevant information is available. 

Links to Steamship Mutual alphabetical list of country/jurisdiction updates 

Please click on letter to link to country/jurisdiction section below:

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COVID-19 FAQ 

Links to industry sites and articles 

Steamship Mutual alphabetical list of country/jurisdiction updates  

The information in this list is from correspondents and/or service providers and is updated regularly.

AFRICA

• General information booklet of 22 April 2020 from correspondents McLeans regarding various African countries: Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bisseau, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Liberia covering lockdown, status of port and quarantine regulations, availability of stevedores, immigration/crew rules, availability of disinfection.
• Information from correspondents TCI Africa/Eltvedt O’Sullivan 22 April 2020 covering lockdown/curfew, port activity, airport in Cameroon; Congo; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea Bissau; Ivory Coast; Kenya; Liberia; Mauritania; Nigeria; Senegal; Tanzania; Togo.

• Information from correspondents TCI Africa/Eltvedt O’Sullivan 4 May 2020 re crew change possibility in Cameroon; Congo; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea Bissau; Ivory Coast; Kenya; Liberia; Mauritania; Nigeria; Senegal; Tanzania.

ALGERIA

• Circular from port of ANNABA (in French) saying that the port of Annaba notified all local agents that following the sanitary services advise, all vessels who called Italian ports will be put on quarantine on road till the release into free circulation is obtained.

ANGOLA

• 15 day state of emergency starting 27 March 2020

ARGENTINA

• Correspondent Pandi Liquidadores webpage - Covid updates

• Correspondent Pandi Liquidadores amended protocol for ships arriving in Argentina 23 May 2020

AUSTRALIA

• Australian Border Force advice for Commercial Vessels as of 1 April 2020
• Bayside update re Western Australia 5 April 2020 – new regulations for crew changes 
• Correspondents Cocks McNish have provided this advice regarding Australia’s regulatory response.

• Correspondents Cocks McNish Maximum period of shipboard service for seafarers 29 June 2020

• Australian Department of Health Covid-19 Information for the marine industry

• Correspondent Thynne & Macartney update 11 May 2020 

• Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) directions and COVID-19 updates: https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/covid19update

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BANGLADESH

• 31 July 2020 update on flights allowed in and out of Bangladesh

• Update from correspondents JF 31 May 2020 re crew changes, joiners, off signers

• 24 May 2020: Ministry of Home Affairs Circular (& translated copy) allowing disembarkation of ship’s crew and stay in hotels until a flight is available

BRAZIL

• Correspondents Proinde webpage on Covid in Brazil

• Correspondents Proinde Practical Guidance for Brazil 19 June 2020. A detailed downloadable 27 page document with guidance on crew changes, quarantine, testing etc

• 30 July 2020 Brazilian Government extends the ban on entry of foreigners to Brazil by road/land or waterway for a further period of 30 days but entry of crew members remains allowed

• Brazilian National Health Authority (ANVISA) issued a comprehensive guideline in relation to the measures to be adopted at the borders / entry points in Brazil for the control and prevention of COVID-19 (dated 25 March 2020)

BULGARIA

• Sitrep 12 March 2020 from Kalimbassieris

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CANADA

• Transport Canada Marine Security Notification #2020-003 with information and guidance on how to minimize the risk of Coronavirus transmission, including what is deemed as Transport Canada’s “Temporary Direction and Guidance” for foreign and domestic flagged vessels.

CAMEROON

• Measures for ships calling at Douala plus Port Authority notice of 6 February 2020

CARIBBEAN

• Correspondents Cariconsult guide with brief information dated 19 June 2020 about Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten/ St. Martin, St. Christopher (St. Kitts)-Nevis, St. Eustatius, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Correspondents Caribbean Marine Surveyors 17 July 2020 update covering Aruba, Bahamas, Bonaire, Colombia, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, French Guyana, St. Eustatius

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CHINA

• Correspondent Huatai Circular 14 May 2020 Update on disembarkation of injured/ill crew

• Correspondent Huatai Circular 21 April 2020 Update on crew changes in Chinese ports

• Correspondent Huatai Circular 15 April 2020 and MSA Guidance on the prevention and control of Covid-19 on board (version 2.0)

• 10.03.20 Correspondents Huatai provided this list with information about various Chinese ports and commented as follows:

  With the improvement of the epidemic situation, work resumption is taking place across China except for Hubei province, the hardest-hit region. With the increase of overseas COVID-19 cases, ports are becoming the front line of the battle against the epidemic. Most protective measures implemented by port authorities are still in force and we suggest shipowners to keep on following the notice we made in our previous Huatai info to avoid any problems. 
• Shanghai P&I circular dated 26 February 2020 – summary of main Chinese ports with updated measures in place 
• Huatai advice for Machong Port plus Health Declaration Form 
• Huatai Circular: MSA Operational Guidance for Ships and seafarers.

COLOMBIA

• Update from correspondents A&A Multiprime 18 May 2020

CONGO

• Correspondent McLeans information about Pointe Noire 31 March 2020

CROATIA

• Correspondents Kacic & Brbora summary of Covid measures in Croatia 20 April 2020  including information on port restriction, ship inspections, seafarers (extension of validity of documents, crew changes, repatriations etc

CYPRUS

• Sitrep 12 March 2020 from Kalimbassieris
• EMCO update 9 April 2020

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

• 16 March 2020 bulletin from Correspondents E&M Consulting

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EGYPT

• Crew change requirements 1 July 2020

• Ministry of Health Circular No6 of 2020 dated 21/2/20
• Sitrep 12 March 2020 from Kalimbassieris
• Correspondents Mesco update 16 March 2020
• EMCO update 9 April 2020 
• Correspondent Eldib update 1 April 2020

ESTONIA

• Update from Pandi Balt 21 May 2020

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FRANCE

• Correspondents Budd update re French ports and measures in place in France

• Correspondents Richemont Nicolas & Associes memo on new regulations in France extending procedural deadlines and time bar. 11 June 2020

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GIBRALTAR

• Correspondents Mateos report that the Gibraltar Port Authority requires that the attached protocol/declaration be completed by every vessel, yacht, cruise liner, bunker barge that will call Gibraltar at either the  Western Anchorage, East anchorage, North Anchorage, any alongside berth, Quick turnarounds, medical disembarkations, OPLA and OPLB. No exemptions will be given. 

GREECE

• Sitrep 12 March 2020 from Kalimbassieris

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HAITI

• 16 March 2020 bulletin from Correspondents E&M Consulting

HONG KONG

• Crew Change update 10 July 2020

• HK Government introduces limitation to crew change regulations from 29 July 2020

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INDIA

• FAQ for crew changes in India 17 May 2020

• Port situation for dry bulk vessels 23 July 2020 from GAC

• Operational scenario for tanker vessels arriving Indian ports 23 July 2020 from GAC 

• Addendum 2 to DGS order 04 dated 25 March 2020 Guidelines on use of personal protective equipment

• Indian government Guidelines to major ports on exemptions/remission of penalties plus issues relating to force majeure dated 31 March 2020 

• DGS order 8 of 2020 dated 31 March 2020 on demurrage, ground rent etc.

• Kolkata / Haldia Dock Complex Cessation of Force Majeure 10 June 2020

• Order 12 of 22 April 2020 Standard Operating Procedure for crew change of Indian seafarers plus circulars from Kolkata, Mundra, Paradip, Sikka, Cochin, Goa

• Order 21 of 20 July 2020 Standard Operating Procedure for repatriation of foreign seafarers from Indian ports

• DGS order 13 of 21 May 2020 - Extension to the validity of Seafarer's Certificates and Ship's Statutory Certificates, periodical Surveys & Audits in view of COVID-I9 pandemic

 INDIAN OCEAN

• Information from Reunion correspondents Indoceanic 4 May 2020 covering various jurisdictions including Reunion, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles.

• Crew change documents for REUNION (in French, English documents not available) dated 18 April 2020 - Débarquement / Embarquement Équipage De Navire (En Situation De Pandémie) and Procedure Releve Équipage.

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INDONESIA

• Correspondent SPICA South East Asia Port Implications 21 April 2020

ISRAEL

• Haifa port will only allow vessels to berth 14 days after they have left the last Italian port. As a voyage from Italy to Israel takes about 4 days, a vessel will have to wait outside the port for about 10 days.

ITALY

• Decree of 11 March 2020 Italian Ministry of Health
• Correspondents Vaudo Paggini Covid-19 Procedural Rules and Time Bar in Italy 23 June 2020

• Correspondents Mauro Consultants Legal & Maritime Recommendations (including vessel restrictions) 26 March 2020

• Form for sanitary free pratique request 

• Maritime Declaration of Health 

• Health questions

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IVORY COAST

• Update from correspondents Budd 26 March 2020

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JAPAN

• Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Border Enforcement Measures

JORDAN

• Update from correspondents Amin Kawar 23 March 2020

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KENYA

• Crew Change Guidelines July 2020 provided by Nisomar, Kenya

• Kenya Ports Authority requirements for people/vessels having called at China in the last 14 days
• Advisory procedures for the port of Mombasa

KOREA

• General Guidelines from Club correspondents Mutual Service Korea.
• Korean Ministry of Justice document: Note Question 4 that there is no restriction for crewmembers visiting Korea apart from those with a passport issued at Hubei Province, China or holds a visa previously issued by the Korean Consulate General in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China or has visited Hubei in the past 14 days. However, in case of a private terminal (for example POSCO terminal), the terminal would not allow the crewmember a shore pass or exchange within the terminal, so Members should consult with the local agent.

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LATVIA

• Update from correspondents Pandi Balt 21 May 2020

LEBANON

• EMCO update 9 April 2020

LIBYA

• EMCO update 9 April 2020

LITHUANIA

• Update from correspondents Pandi Balt 21 May 2020

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MALAYSIA

• Crew change possibilities in Malaysia – update from GAC 3 August 2020

• Bintulu Port health screening procedures

• Correspondent SPICA South East Asia Port Implications 21 April 2020

MALTA 

• Protocol for conducting maritime support services Transport Malta 23 May 2020 

MEXICO

• General Guidelines and Update 1 May 2020 from correspondents P&I Services (Mexico)

MOROCCO

• Update from correspondents Maclaims maritime Morocco 20 May 2020 (plus 4 May, 22 April, 18 and 20 March)

MYANMAR

• Correspondent SPICA South East Asia Port Implications 21 April 2020

• Precautionary Restrictions for travelers from all countries visiting Myanmar.

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NIGERIA

• Update from correspondents Africa Marine 26 March 2020

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PAKISTAN

• Port Health Establishment Preventative Measures dated 27 January 2020
• Port Qasim Circular 28.1.20 Instructions for current emergency situation corona virus

PANAMA

• Update from correspondents Fernie 17 July 2020 – Crew changes still not possible + Panama Canal update

• Panama Canal Advisory 15 April suspension of the second reduction in the max allowed drafts for the Neo Panamax locks

PHILIPPINES

• Correspondents Del Rosario report that parts of the Philippines, incl. Metro Manila, back in lock down, 4 August 2020

• Guidelines for the Establishment of the Philippine Green Lane to Facilitate the Speedy and Safe Travel of Seafarers, Including their Safe and Swift Disembarkation, and Crew Change During the COVID-19 Pandemic 2 July 2020

• Protocol of the Philippines on crew change and repatriation of seafarer

• Pandiman Bulletin 13 May 2020 New requirements for the arrival of all passengers into the Phlippines 

• Requirements for vessels arriving in the Philippines and POEA General Guidelines

POLAND

• Update from correspondents Sulnave 27 May 2020

PORTUGAL

• Correspondents Pinto Basto update 14 July 2020

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ROMANIA

• Sitrep 12 March 2020 from Kalimbassieris

RUSSIA

• South Russia review from Correspondents Antarica 3 April 2020

• South Russia: Updated port and general information including Crew control, Cargo operations and Personal protective equipment availability.

• Russian Black Sea ports preventative measures 11 March 2020
• Novorossiysk Letter from Sanitary services 10 March 2020

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SAUDI ARABIA

• Local agents advise that if ships are calling at Saudi ports from China, the port health will attend on board on arrival to check the crew condition accordingly. The attached circular issued by the Ministry of Health provides a list of countries from which travel to Saudi Arabia is restricted. Anyone travelling directly from the listed countries will be quarantined for 14 days on arrival. In addition strict checks are now being implemented at the airports to determine the point of origin of any journey 
• On 23 March 2020 the Saudi Government has today imposed a curfew for 3 weeks, the curfew is from 7pm to 6am. This will prevent surveyors from being able to attend ships for inspections during these times
• Additionally the Saudi Ports Authority Circular 37 of 2020 outlines the preventative measures now in place

SENEGAL

• 72 hours before their arrival in Dakar, all vessels must email the following documents:
  • List of the last ten (10) ports of call;
  • Maritime Health Declaration;
  • Crew list specifying joining date and port of each crew member.
  
  to both:
  
  1. the Harbour Master at capitainerie@portdakar.sn, and
  2. the Maritime Border Health Inspection Services (Service de Contrôle Sanitaire aux Frontières Maritimes) at csfmsn@gmail.com
• Vessels arriving from an area affected by COVID-19 are now obliged to remain at anchorage until inspectors from the Maritime Border Health Inspection Services have carried out checks on board. The vessel will only be allowed to enter the port once it has received free pratique from the inspectors.
• TCI Dakar Circular 24 March 2020 – note the recommendation for extra vigilance to avoid the embarkation of stowaways.

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SINGAPORE 

• COVID-19 Singapore Crew Change Guidebook 1 June 2020 
• MPA Port Marine Circular 26 of 22 May 2020 on crew change in Singapore. But see also MPA Circulars 31 and 32 dated 24 July 2020

• MPA Port Marine Circular 27 of 18 June 2020 Updated crew change requirements (supplementary to Circular 26). But see also MPA Circulars 31 and 32 dated 24 July 2020

• MPA Port Marine Circular 31 dated 24 July 2020 – Revisions to crew change

• MPA Port Marine Circular 32 dated 24 July 2020 – Advisory for shore personnel or ship’s crew visiting or working on vessels

• MPA Port Marine Circular 23 of 16 April 2020 COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020

• Consolidated list of MPA Circulars

• Pilotage - Singapore Harbour Pilots Guidance for Ship's Masters regarding working with pilots 1 July 2020

SOMALIA

• Update from Mutual Marine Al Mushtaraka 15 May 2020

SOUTH AMERICA

• SAPIC organisation map with links showing measures taken by several South American jurisdictions 2 July 2020

SOUTH AFRICA

• Marine Notice 13 of 2020 dated 16 March 2020 Coronavirus vessels and seafarers (covering statutory surveys, crew changes, crew information etc)
• Marine Notice 14 of 2020 dated 16 March 2020 South African Maritime Safety Authority Covid information and emergency Contact details
• Marine Notice 15 of 2020 dated 17 March 2020 South African Maritime Safety Authority Government announcement re port calls to be implemented from 18 March 2020
• Government Gazette 18 March 2020 Regulations now in place under the National Ports Act dealing with the embarkation and disembarkation of people in South African ports. The regulations also impact on people attending at ports and require compulsory screening. It is a criminal offence to contravene the Act and its regulations.
• South Africa’s eight commercial sea ports of Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Ngqura, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town and Saldanha Bay are still operational and accepting cargo ships, but with restrictions as set out in the attached article from Africa Ports & Ships Newsletter, which is based on a statement issued by the Acting Chief Harbour Master on 19 March 2020.

• Durban Correspondents Shepstone & Wylie report on lockdown regulations to 16 April 2020 

• Correspondent Shepstone & Wylie summary of lockdown regulations
• Correspondent Shepstone & Wylie summary of regulations for container terminals

• Bowmans summary of regulations for lockdown period

SPAIN

• Update of 25 June from Correspondents Tablada (for ports of Seville, Huelva, Cadiz, Algeciras)

• Update of 26 March 2020 from Correspondents Hispania P&I

• Law firm AIYON – Circular on COVID-19 and Port and Legal system in Spain

• Canary Islands update 2 May 2020 from correspondents Stier

• Update of 19 May 2020 from Barcelona correspondents INDECO Schedule of measures to restore Spanish nautical sector after lockdown

SRI LANKA 

• Correspondents Intermarc update 9 May 2020

SUDAN

• Correspondents Mutual Marine Services & Transport al-Mushtaraka Ltd. Advise on 12 May 2020 that Port Sudan has reduced operations due to a curfew. When a ship arrives at Port Sudan, if the voyage has taken 14 days or longer, the vessel can berth on arrival. If less than 14 days the vessel will have to wait at the anchorage until the 14 day period is reached. This does not apply to ships that arrive at Port Sudan via the Suez Canal, in which case all these ships must wait at the anchorage for 14 days. All ships on arrival will be boarded by the Port Health to check the crew as necessary.

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TAIWAN

• Regulations of Taiwan border control to crew landing 18 May 2020

THAILAND

• Correspondent SPICA South East Asia Port Implications 21 April 2020

TURKEY

• Correspondent Metropole Circular dated 4 March 2020 on Recent practices at Turkish Ports
• Correspondents Metropole advise that in cases where the vessel’s passage from an affected country has taken more than 14 days and no-one onboard has symptoms of the virus, no quarantine is applied and vessel may berth as scheduled provided that nobody on board has symptoms of the virus and the same is confirmed after medical checks by the related authorities.
• Correspondents Metropole Circular dated 11 March 2020
• Sitrep 12 March 2020 from Kalimbassieris 
• Correspondents Ersoy Bilgehan Client Alert New Precautions for Marine Transport Industry 17 March 2020.

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UAE

• UAE Federal Transport Authority Circular 12-20 of 2 August 2020 resuming maritime activities and crew changes plus UAE Return to work safely protocol dated 2 August 2020 covering crew changes, ferries, passenger ships, yachts, shore pass procedure etc

UKRAINE

• General information about Covid-19 procedures

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UNITED KINGDOM

• Department for Transport Guidance for shipping and sea ports

URUGUAY

• Correspondent Chadwick Weir circular of 30 July 2020 – Health requirements for entry to and departure from Uruguay (including crew changes) plus Health Declaration Form

USA 

• Correspondents Independent Maritime have provided this US Maritime Advisory 2020 – 004 which includes various links to US Government announcements about Travel Health; US Coast Guard Coronavirus Precautions; Reporting requirements etc
• Correspondent IMC provide Basic recommended precautions for vessels calling at the US
• Maritime Conveyance illness or death investigative form
• Hudson Covid Circular dated 10 March 2020
• USCG Reporting procedures 18 March 2020
• CDC Guidance for ships managing Covid-19, 20 July 2020 

• CDC Extension to no sail order for cruise ships 16 July 2020

• CDC General information How to protect yourself/What to do if you are sick (available in various languages)

• USCG FAQ

• USCG Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIB)

• American Waterways Operators (AWO) COVID-19 Contingency Planning Guide for Towing vessel and Barge operators

• US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Information for American employers

• American Bureau of Shipping: Response measures to COVID-19 for Marine and Offshore Industries May 2020

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VENEZUELA

• Correspondents Globalpandi Circular of 17 April 2020

• Correspondents Pandi Venezuela Circular 7 July 2020 update including vessel inspections  

• Correspondents Pandi Venezuela Circular 13 July 2020 with crew change update

• Correspondents Globalpandi Circular 6 May 2020 regulations for STS operations in Venezuelan waters

VIETNAM

• Correspondent SPICA South East Asia Port Implications 21 April 2020
• Port circulars from Ho Chi Minh dated 6 February 2020 and Haiphong dated 7 February 2020
• Haiphong: Ships arriving in Haiphong from Korea and Japan equated to arriving from China 
• Quang Ningh Province Guideline dated 6 March 2020

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YEMEN

• Outline of Covid-19 measures from correspondents GAC 10 April 2020

• 12 May 2020. Correspondents GAC report that the Yemeni Ministry of Health has declared the port city of Aden as a contagious city with the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. Besides other epidemics such as Chikungunya, Dengue fever and malaria, Covid-19 virus is claiming the lives of dozens of citizens on a daily basis in front of a complete collapse of the health system and the absence of state authorities. The port of Aden in the meantime remains open and operational. 

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