Transport Canada (TC) continues to monitor the evolving threat of the COVID-19, both internationally and nationally, with a view of mitigating this threat to Canada’s maritime transportation system.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and public health authorities of local jurisdiction are leading the response to the current COVID-19 public health event. Transport Canada is supporting the response in the marine transportation mode.
- While in transit from international or foreign waters and upon arrival at the first Canadian port of call, vessels with presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be dealt with by the PHAC.
- Once a vessel has arrived at its first Canadian port of call – or for a Canadian registered vessel engaged on a domestic voyage, the management of any subsequent presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19 would be led by the public health agency of local jurisdiction…
…TC has created a website that provides updates on transportation-related measures it has taken in response to COVID-19 https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-tc.html
Operation of Vessels in Coastal Waters - Foreign Flagged ships and Canadian Flagged Vessels on International Voyages
- As per the Quarantine Act, prior to arrival of a vessel at its destination in Canada, the vessel operator must inform a quarantine officer, or cause a quarantine officer to be informed if any person, cargo or other things on board the conveyance could cause the spreading of a communicable disease (such as COVID-19).
- Foreign and Canadian flagged vessels are to pay particular attention to ensuring that all required components of the 96 Pre-Arrival Information Report (PAIR) and 24 Hour Report are completed in accordance with section 221 of the Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR).
- Reporting of illnesses aboard a vessel to the PHAC should be made through the existing PAIR reporting process to Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS).
- Based on that information provided, PHAC will provide follow-on direction to the vessel.
- In the event that PHAC determines a crew member or passenger onboard a vessel to be at risk, notification will be provided to other (this may include but is not limited to the CBSA, CCG, TC Marine Safety, and appropriate pilotage and port authorities).
- Should a vessel have an ill or symptomatic crew member or passenger after having arrived in Canada, Masters should inform the appropriate local health authority and the ship’s agent for further direction.
- Ships’ agents are asked to inform the applicable pilotage authority of the state of the ship’s health when requesting pilots for harbour movements or for the outbound passage.
- Vessel Masters with crew members and passengers symptomatic of the Coronavirus are to advise Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security following transmission of the 96 hour PAIR.
- Anyone who had close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days. Self-isolate means that, for 14 days, they need to:
- Stay at home (or aboard vessel) and monitor yourself for symptoms, even if mild
- Avoid contact with other people to help prevent transmission of the virus at the earliest stage of illness.
Operation of Vessels Entering Internal Waters from International Voyages (for example, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River)
- As per the Quarantine Act, prior to arrival of a vessel at its destination in Canada, the vessel operator must inform a Quarantine officer, or cause a Quarantine officer to be informed if any person, cargo or other things on board the conveyance could cause the spreading of a communicable disease (such as COVID-19).
- For those voyages of foreign and Canadian flagged vessels requiring a PAIR report, this that shall be in accordance with section 221 of the MTSR.
- Reporting of illnesses aboard a vessel to the PHAC should be made through the existing PAIR reporting process to Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS).
- Based on that information provided, PHAC will provide follow-on direction to the vessel.
- In the event that PHAC determines a crew member or passenger onboard a vessel to be at risk, notification will be provided to others (this may include but is not limited to the CBSA, CCG, TC Marine Safety, and appropriate pilotage and port authorities).
- Should a vessel have an ill or symptomatic crew member or passenger after having arrived in Canada, Masters should inform the appropriate local health authority and the ship’s agent for further direction.
- Ships’ agents are asked to inform the applicable pilotage authority of the state of the ship’s health when requesting pilots for harbour movements or for the outbound passage.
- Anyone who had close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days. Self-isolate means that, for 14 days, they need to:
- Stay at home (or aboard vessel) and monitor yourself for symptoms, even if mild
- Avoid contact with other people to help prevent transmission of the virus at the earliest stage of illness.
Vessels Engaged on Domestic Voyages in Canada
- Prior to embarkation at sea or alongside, the vessel operator is to inform the appropriate local or provincial health authorities and the vessel’s agent of crew members and passengers displaying an illness symptomatic of COVID-19 on board.
- Vessel Masters with crew members and passengers displaying signs and reporting symptoms of a suspected infectious disease are to also notify Marine Communications and Traffic Services, pilotage authorities, port authority, and marine facility operators.
- Anyone who had close contact with someone who has or is suspected to have COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days. Self-isolate means that, for 14 days, they need to:
- - Stay at home (or aboard vessel) and monitor yourself for symptoms, even if mild
- - Avoid contact with other people to help prevent transmission of the virus at the earliest stage of illness…
(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Canada, contact the GAC Houston Hub Agency Center at [email protected])
Source: Extracts from Transport Canada Special Marine Security Notification No: #2020-006
