HOT PORT NEWS from GAC
Restoration of SPM
Monday, January 4, 2021, Jebel Dhana Ruwais, United Arab Emirates
SPM #3 has been restored back in its position at the location Latitude 024° 12’ 01.4”N, Longitude 052° 41’ 20.1”E.
For information about operations in Abu Dhabi, contact GAC Abu Dhabi at [email protected]
Source: Petroleum Ports Authority – ADNOC – Port Marine Notice No.JDR/MN/001/2021
Lifting of suspension of all international flights and travel
Monday, January 4, 2021, Saudi Arabia
Effective from 03 January 2021, airlines are permitted to transport passengers to the Kingdom, subject to the following guidelines:
- The transport of non-Saudi citizen travellers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia coming from the United Kingdom, South Africa, as well as from any other country being specified by the health authorities in which the new variant of the coronavirus (B117) is spread, shall spend no less than 14 days outside the country in which the new variant is spread before entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a PCR examination after the expiration of this period, proving that the passenger is COVID-19 infection-free.
- Saudi citizens and those who are allowed to travel into the Kingdom for humanitarian and urgent cases coming from countries where the new variant is spread are excluded from (1) and shall be quarantined in their homes for a period of 14 days.
- Passengers who are coming from the countries in which cases of the strain B117 were registered, shall be quarantined in their homes for a period of 7 days.
- For travellers from the rest of the countries, a 7-day mandatory home quarantine shall be applied or at least 3 days with a mandatory laboratory examination (PCR).
For further details or information about operations in Saudi Arabia, contact GAC Saudi Arabia at [email protected]
COVID-19 updates – High-risk countries
Monday, January 4, 2021, South Korea
The Korean government has placed the following countries in the COVID-19 ‘high risk countries’ list:
- Bangladesh
- Kyrgyzstan
- Philippines
- Uzbekistan
- Russia
- Nepal
- United Kingdom
- Republic of South Africa (29 Dec 2020 onwards)
A PCR test certificate in compliance with the requirements of the Korean government (taken not more than 48 hours prior and from an approved facility) must be presented.
If a vessel has sailed for more than 28 days after departing from the ‘high risk countries’ and called at two other non-high risk countries before arriving at a Korean port, a PCR certificate is not required.
Failure to submit a PCR test certificate or submitting a PCR test certificate that does not fulfill the authorities’ requirements will result in a penalty on the vessel’s crew and owner and also a delay in berthing.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Korea, contact the GAC Singapore Hub Agency Centre at [email protected]
Travel restriction updates
Monday, January 4, 2021, Japan
The Japanese government has announced that Japanese immigration will refuse entry to visitors of any nationality from abroad effective from 28 December 2020. This regulation does not apply to on-signing and off-signing crew. However, as the new regulation may result in flight cancellations, it is advisable to contact the respective airlines for flight availability.
Seaman’s book holding crew who has visited the UK or South Africa in the 14 days prior to arrival will not be allowed to enter Japan.
For further details or information about operations in Japan, contact GAC Japan at [email protected]
Updated guidelines on the conduct of crew changes
Monday, January 4, 2021, Philippines
With reference to IATF Resolution No. 91 and the memorandum of the Executive Secretary dated 31 December 2020 with subject “Additional Measures to be Observed Relative to the SARS-COV-2 Variant Detected in the United Kingdom”, the following are the revised measures to be observed by all OSS for Seafarers to address the risks posed by the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2:
(A) Foreign seafarers coming from or transiting through the below listed countries, or who have been to the same within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, are temporarily restricted from entering the country effective 0001H of 30 December 2020 to 15 January 2021.
List of identified countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Lebanon
- Netherlands
- Singapore
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States (Effective from 0001H on 03 January 2021)
Please note that additional countries can included in the above list as may be directed by the Office of the President.
(B) Filipino and foreign seafarers with no immigration admission at any of the countries listed in Item A shall be allowed to disembark and subjected to existing health and safety protocols of the established One-Shop Shops (OSS) for Seafarers.
(C) Filipino seafarers coming from countries mentioned in Item A, or who have been to the same within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, shall not be prohibited from disembarking their ships, but shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR result.
(D) Effective immediately, foreign seafarers coming from the US, or who have been to the US within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, arriving before 0001H of 03 January 2021, Manila time, shall not be prohibited from entering the Philippines, but shall be required to undergo an absolute facility-based 14-day quarantine period notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR result.
(E) Seafarers that fall under the classifications of Items C & D are only allowed to disembark in Port of Manila and shall be transported by their shipping agents to the designated quarantine facility via P2P under strict monitoring of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
Relative thereto, Filipino seafarers shall undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine in OWWA-assigned facilities and at Athlete’s Village in New Clark City with accommodation shouldered by the Philippine government. Meanwhile, foreign seafarers shall be quarantined in DOT-assigned facilities for 14 days. The 14-day facility-based quarantine is mandatory notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR result.
(F) Embarkation to ships bound for the countries mentioned in Item A shall be subject to the existing exit protocols of the Philippines as well as entry protocols of the respective countries.
For further details or information about operations in the Philippines, contact GAC Philippines at [email protected]
Crew change updates
Monday, January 4, 2021, Singapore
The Ministry of Health has announced that from 03 January 2021, 2359 hours, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to South Africa within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore. This is in addition to similar border restrictions imposed on travellers from the United Kingdom (UK) from 23 December 2020, 2359 hours.
In line with the above, the following crew change will not be allowed in the Port of Singapore:
a) Crew with recent travel history to the UK or South Africa within the last 14 days preceding arrival to Singapore. This includes sign-on crew travelling to Singapore by flight as well as sign-off crew from vessels that have called at these countries.
b) Sign-on crew transiting the UK and South Africa on their connecting flights to Singapore.
The above measures for crew with travel history to the UK or South Africa are effective from 23 December 2020, 2359 hours and 03 January 2021, 2359 hours respectively.
(This is to be read in conjunction with Port Marine Circular No. 42 of 2020 – Further enhancements to crew change for cargo ships published in Hot Port News on 10 November 2020.)
For further details or information about operations in Singapore, contact GAC Singapore at [email protected]
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Circular No. 02 of 2021 dated 04 January 2021
Source: GAC