Updated guidelines on the conduct of crew changes

Updated guidelines on the conduct of crew changes
05/01/2021 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/updated-guidelines-on-the-conduct-o...

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:

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Denmark
4. France
5. Germany
6. Hong Kong
7. Iceland
8. Ireland
9. Israel
10. Italy
11. Japan
12. Lebanon
13. Netherlands
14. Singapore
15. South Africa
16. South Korea
17. Spain
18. Sweden
19. Switzerland
20. United Kingdom
21. 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.
Source: GAC