Korea joins the regional enforcement in enhanced quarantine measures
Proof of negative PCR test result mandated for all foreign vessels
Things are worsening with a more contagious strain, and countries are going to even greater extremes to close off visitors than in previous heights of the global pandemic. It is said that many plan to keep borders closed, or severely restricted until March 2021.
As of 15 January 2020, all vessels are mandated to present COVID-19 PCR negative certificates for all on-signers prior to boarding. This is the latest enhanced quarantine measures from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Meanwhile, vaccines are making their way into global communities, including Europe, where millions of doses are distributed. Both the United States and United Kingdom have vaccines in distribution, and doses for much of Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America and beyond are reportedly in progress.
Where does this leave crew change?
With the circulation of the new strain, crew change is further complicated with various conditional regulations imposed from country-to-country. For Korea, vessels who have visited high risk countries (Russia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, The Philippines and Uzbekistan) are to submit their COVID-19 PCR results issued by designated hospitals 48 hours before departing from port. Additionally, all on-signers who embarked from all the listed countries are to submit the same when calling at a Korean port.
For the crews who embarked from the high risk countries, certificates must be issued at the designated facilities and for the crews who embarked from other countries, certificates can be issued at any facilities. Also, certificates must be issued within 72 hours before departure from a port. With designated facilities in high risk countries and other conditions subject to change, all seafarers are recommended to check the latest information at the time of vessel’s calling through local agents in Korea.
Source:
Safety4sea