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New quarantine rules that require anyone arriving into the UK to self-isolate for 14 days came into effect yesterday (8 June).
The rules apply to anyone arriving into the UK by land, sea or air. This means both on-signers and off-signers if a vessel has been outside of the 12NM UK maritime border. However, there are exemptions for this for the maritime industry which we have outlined below.
Seafarers are exempt from having to self-isolate, but must fill in a form online https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk no earlier than 48 hours before arriving or departing the UK.
The full list of exemptions can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules
Individuals will need to provide journey and contact details in the link above.
If a person qualifies as per the exemption list, they should not need to self-isolate for 14 days.
Travellers need to have the completed form on them (printed or on phone) to show at Border Force. If a person works on a ship, they need to show a Seafarers Identification Document (SID) if they have one. If they do not have a SID, they can show joining papers, seafarer’s employment agreement or a seafarer’s discharge book (Continuous Certificate of Discharge) instead. Alternatively, they could show a basic training certificate or declaration from the registered owners of the vessel that they are a crew member.
If an inspector or surveyor of ships is appointed under section 256 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 they are exempt. They will need to provide journey and contact details and should not need to self-isolate for 14 days. They should show a Seafarers Identification Document (SID) if they have one. If they don’t have a SID, they can show joining papers, seafarer’s employment agreement or a seafarer’s discharge book (Continuous Certificate of Discharge) instead.
Workers involved in maintenance and essential support services for offshore oil and gas infrastructure in the UK, and those with specialist technical skills required for essential or emergency works to ensure the continued safe and secure operations of generating stations, gas or electricity transmission or distribution networks, electricity interconnectors, gas terminals or district or communal heat networks, are also exempt. They will need to show a letter from their company at the border which includes:
- personal details, such as name and address
- contact details for employer
- explanation of work to be carried out
Project crew/company visitors travelling from outside the UK that are not departing with the vessel but just visiting whilst alongside will not be classed as exempt personnel unless they qualify as listed in the UK Government exemptions list.
Project Crew departing with the vessel, if classed as essential workers per the guidance, will qualify for exemption and will not be required to self-isolate but will be required to fill out the online form.
These quarantine rules have been specifically introduced due to COVID-19 and are not to be confused with other UK Immigration laws.
For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United Kingdom, contact GAC UK at [email protected]