Coronavirus measures update (7 February)

Further updates to measures being taken locally to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus at ports throughout Australia:

QUEENSLAND
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ ) have issued a direction in regards to all ships that left, or transited through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 and that intends to enter a Queensland pilotage area.
The ship must not enter a Queensland pilotage area until 14 days have elapsed since the ship's departure from mainland China on or after 1 February 2020. (To remove any doubt, this means for example that a ship which departed mainland China on 1 February 2020 may not enter a Queensland pilotage area until 15 February 2020 and a ship that departed mainland China on 3 February 2020 may not enter a Queensland pilotage area until 17 February 2020).

MACKAY
Ships crew to wear gloves during vessel mooring and unmooring activities (Handling of heaving lines)

Australian Border Force Mackay have issued the following advice:

“In the Maritime space there is currently no change to ABF operating and reporting procedures for merchant vessel activity in relation to the Coronavirus matter.

There are however, mechanisms that have been put in place by Queensland State Government authorities, including the requirement for vessels to report extra information to VTS. The Australian Government is currently reviewing the Maritime space in order to determine how best to monitor and manage the Coronavirus threat.

Any change to procedures will be disseminated as the information becomes available.”

PORT KEMBLA
Department of Agriculture Port Kembla have advised: no-one departing mainland China on or after 1 Feb 2020 will be permitted entry unless they meet certain citizenship or familial criteria. This includes crew, supernumeraries and other travellers. Day trippers and crew exchanges will not be permitted.
Any traveller that departed mainland China on or before 31 January will undergo current screening processes, with Dept. of Health information being provided on arrival. We continue to monitor all vessel arrivals into port.

TASMANIAN PORTS
All ships departing China must have passed a 14 day period before they can berth at a Tasmanian Port. 24 hours prior to the scheduled arrival time, Shipping Agents will be requested to provide the following to TasPorts VTS:

• Has the vessel come direct from China? If not, have any of the crew come from China or transited through China within the previous 14 days?
• Has the Master of the vessel been monitoring crew health and checking for flu or fever like symptoms?
• If so, how has the monitoring been undertaken and recorded? (eg: if daily temperature checks have been undertaken, has this been recorded in a log?).
• Do any crew have any signs of illness of any kind?
• Has the vessel submitted a biosecurity declaration? Agents are to provide TasPorts VTS with a copy of this declaration.
• If there are signs of illness, what measures have been applied on board to contain any illness?

ESPERANCE
All foreign trading ships scheduled to arrive at Southern Ports - Port of Esperance are to provide the following information to the Harbour Master/Pilot (2 hours prior to embarking a Pilot) until further notice;

1. Report if any Crew Member or Passenger has visited China in the past 14 days; If less than 14 days then the crew or passenger are to remain on board whilst in port i.e. 14 days self-isolation similar to the attached advice.
2. Report if any Crew Member or Passenger is showing any of the Novel Coronavirus symptoms that include fever, flu-like symptoms cough, sore throat, headache or difficulty breathing.

If the answer is yes, the State and Federal agencies will be notified. Any such ships will either be directed back to sea, or proceed to anchor until assessed and cleared by appropriate government qualified personnel Standard procedures remain in place for managing maritime crew and travellers should they display symptoms of illness prior to, or on arrival, into Australia, through Federal pre-arrival reporting mechanisms.

DAMPIER
Woodside – All vessels are requested to confirm Last Port of call, Time and date of receival of your Biosecurity Status Document (declaration of Free Pratique) status from Australian Department of Agriculture which gives your vessel approval to berth and If any of your crew have developed fever, cold or flu symptoms which will may change your Biosecurity Status.
If vessel has travelled from mainland China within the past 14 days, we recommend that all crew do not take “shore leave” during Port Stay. Exceptions to the above recommendation is for any crew member who requires urgent medical treatment and/or are being repatriated as part of a crew change (subject to any applicable government restrictions)

DARWIN
Harbour Control Officers (HCO) shall require all foreign trading ships scheduled to arrive at Darwin port to provide the following information (2 hours prior to embarking a Pilot) until further notice;
1) has left or transited through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020;
2) Report if any Crew Member is unwell.
If answers to both of the above questions are NO, the HCO shall then inform all parties including; Marine Pilots, Pilot Boat Crew and the ships Agent of the clear declaration. If the answer is YES to either question, the HCO shall immediately inform the GMO or DOM for direction on appropriate action. The GMO/DOM will make the appropriate notifications to the Territory and Federal agencies for further advice. Any such ships will either be directed back to sea or proceed to anchor until assessed and cleared by appropriate government qualified personnel.

Inpex terminal - self-assessment form to be completed, signed and dated by the Master of vessels intending to load at the FPSO Ichthys Venturer and Bladin Point Marine Terminals. This should accompany the 96hr arrival notification. Vessel has been categorised into three risk levels with corresponding actions.

Low Risk – Vessel has not visited an ‘at risk’ port within 15 days prior to arrival, and no crew members are currently presenting symptoms. Actions: Shore leave and crew change permittred at the discretion of terminal personnel. Personnel boarding vessel are advised to use hand sanitisers and practice good hygiene. No other restrictions apply.

Potential Risk – Vessel has visited an ‘at risk’ port within 15 days prior to arrival, but no crew members are presenting symptoms. Actions: Restrict number of personnel boarding vessel. Do not permit shore leave or crew change. Personnel required to board the vessel are to wear required PPE.

High Risk – Vessel has visited an ‘at risk’ port within 15 days prior to arrival. One or more crew members are presenting with symptoms. Actions: Contact Commonwealth, State/Territory Department of Agriculture and Health for advice and permission to berth. If vessel is permitted to berth, apply the following actions. Briefed personnel on risks and mitigation actions before they board the vessel. Restrict number of personnel boarding vessel. Do not permit shore leave or crew change. Personnel required to board the vessel are to wear required PPE.

Vopak– It is requested that a crew list of people who are from or have been to the province of Hubei or affected areas in recent times is supplied. In addition, the following is to be complied with:

• Minimal interaction with the crew
• Cargo handling plan / safety meeting with the C/O to be held ashore in our CCR at the BLB.
• Repetitive checks either onshore or verbal - and signed off upon completion of cargo.
• Vessel sign-off to be ashore in our CCR.
• All persons to be wearing P2 masks/ surgical type gloves when interacting with ship personnel.
• Disinfectant solution will be available for washing hands thereafter

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at [email protected]