Measures regarding prevention of spread of COVID-19

28 Mar 2020 / Cotonou, Benin

The Cotonou Port Authority Managing Director informs ships owners, shipping agents, stevedores and all port platform users that the following measures are in place with immediate effect in order to prevent and avoid COVID-19 to spread at Cotonou port.

These measures consist of:

  1. All Masters of vessels calling Cotonou port must transmit to the following documents to Harbour Master through their appointed ship agent, 48 hours prior to vessel arrival at Cotonou Roads:
    - 10 last port of call list
    - Memorandum stating the whole crew health status
    - Crew list (Crew list must show place and date of embarkation)
    No vessel is allowed to berth without transmission of the listed documents above during the period stated above.

  2. After vessel berthing, sanitary officials will board for health and sanitary inspection.
    - No person allowed to board the vessel or disembark from the vessel prior to completion of the sanitary inspection and delivery of free pratique by sanitary officials.
    - Cargo operations will commence only after free pratique duly is delivered to vessel.

  3. During a call at Cotonou port:
    - crew members are no longer allowed to go ashore; the delivery of shore passes is suspended.
    - All crew or passengers who embarked a vessel less than 14 days prior vessel arrival/berthing at Cotonou port should be self-isolated, quarantined and remain on board until the vessel leaves Cotonou port.
    - Crew change (crew embarkation & disembarkation) at berth or anchorage is suspended until further notice.
    - Cruise and passenger vessels port calls are no longer allowed until further notice.

  4. All port operators (shipping agents, stevedores, clearing agents, trucks owners) should comply with all measures implemented by Benin government against COVID-19 in order to preserve their health.

Cotonou Port Authority environment inspectors will proceed with unplanned visits to assess the effectiveness of the respect of the above listed measures.

This circular is released with immediate effect.

(For information about operations in Benin, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at [email protected])

Source: Translation of Contonou Port Authority Circular No.901/2020/PAC/DG/DPSOI/DCM/DRH/DC dated 27 March 2020

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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