BIMCO COVID 19 weekly report
Overview
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 Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 22 January 2021
1. IMO
IMO has issued the following circular:
- 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, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Vanuatu.
Reference: MSC.7/circ.1/Rev.20
Additional details available on our implementation page.
3. Government States
Argentina
The Argentine government has announced through an IMO circ. 4287/add. 4, a three tier certificate extension procedure:
- Certificates expired between 1 January and 30 June, 2020 will be extended for one year
- Certificates expired between 1 July and 31 December, 2020 will be extended until 30 September, 2021
- Certificates that expire between 1 January and 30 June will be extended for 3 month after the printed expiry date
Canada
Via an IMO circular 4226/add.2, Transport Canada issued ship safety bulletin No. 01/2021, reminding shipowners of all foreign ships operating in Canadian waters, their continued responsibility and obligation relating to a seafarer's maximum period of service on board as well as repatriating them during COVID-19. Strict compliance with respect to a seafarer's validity of SEA must be adhered to, failing which detention and/or administrative monetary penalty may be imposed. Port state control inspections will focus on crew status on board as well as the possibility of crew change performed prior to arriving on Canadian waters.
Denmark
A temporary flight ban from Dubai has been issued to last until 26 January included.
Philippines
According to information provided by GAC Hot Port News, the flights from the UAE and Hungary have been suspended until 31 January due to the detection of potent strains of COVID19.
Singapore
The Singapore Maritime Port Authority has consolidated the measures on crew change imposed last week into an updated official circular PMC 05/2021 which should be referred to as the latest for crew change guidance.
Sri Lanka
The UK P&I Club reports that crew change is facilitated through the Offshore Crew Transit Hub.
Please see the Standard Operating Procedure provided by Waypoint.
United Kingdom
According to information provided by the UK Department of Transport, all travel corridors to England have been suspended since 18 January 2021. Different rules apply to: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Seafarers, inspectors and surveyors are exempted from self isolation.For further details on additional countries, please refer to our implementation page.
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 :
- 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
You can also view all information on our COVID-19 landing page.
Feedback or a question about this information?
Posted:
22 January 2021
VPS Bunker Alerts
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
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