Novel Coronavirus precautions update (3 February 2020)

The Australian Border Force advises that any foreign travellers who have left or transited through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 will be refused entry to Australia, in order to minimise the potential spread of Novel Coronavirus.

Whilst air crew and cruise ship crew are exempt from these restrictions, commercial vessel crew that hold MCVs are NOT exempt. This should not impact any vessels which have already left their last port and currently on the way to Australia, but any vessel yet to leave their last foreign port may be subject to the above restrictions. This advice is to be immediately passed on to all vessels which have yet to leave their last port and will be travelling to Australia over the next 14 days. It is our understanding that if a vessel that left mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 will be quarantined until 14-day period has passed. If no illness is reported vessel will proceed as normal. If sickness is noted Quarantine will be restarted for a further 14 days.

As a part of pre arrival reporting to Biosecurity (AQIS) Masters are required to include a Human Health Update at least 12 hours prior to the vessel’s arrival into Australian territorial waters. This update reports any crew, passengers, etc that are unwell. The update is vetted by biosecurity who then make a call if there is a health issue on board and what actions may need to be taken. It is requested that factsheets (Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Information Sheet for Border Staff and Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Information Sheet for Travellers) to vessel masters and crew following the lodgement of pre-arrival reporting. A copy of the factsheet is available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-information-for-travellers-arriving-in-australia-from-china-zhi-cong-zhong-guo-di-ao-lu-ke-you-guan-xin-xing-guan-zhuang-bing-du-de-xin-xi

QUEENSLAND PORTS (Cape Flattery, Cairns, Mourilyan, Lucinda, Townsville, Abbott Point, Mackay, Port Alma, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Brisbane)
Queensland’s Vessel Traffic Services require all foreign trading ships scheduled to arrive at Queensland ports to provide the following information (2 hours prior to embarking a Pilot):
* Report if any Crew Member has visited the Hubei Province in China past 14 days
* Report if any Crew Member or passenger has visited mainland China since 1 February 2020
* Report if any Crew Member is showing any of the Novel Coronavirus symptoms that include fever, flu-like symptoms cough, sore throat, headache or difficulty breathing. Ships MUST provide this information to VTS 2-3 hours prior to embarking a Pilot and/or going to anchor, and with the Reef VTS Pre-Entry report (1 hour prior to entering the Reef VTS area).

If answers to all above questions are NO, MSQ will then inform all parties including Marine and Reef Pilots, port authority and ships agent of the clear declaration.

If the answer is YES to any question for inbound vessels to a port or anchorage, VTS is to advise the respective Regional Harbour Master (RHM) immediately and follow any instructions given. If the answer is YES to any question for vessels picking up Reef Pilot, Reef VTS is to notify the pilotage provider immediately, Regional Harbour Master Townsville, and AMSA.

Any crew member identified as having visited Hubei Province, China within the past 14 days OR having visited mainland China since 1 Feb will be asked report to the Captain and to self-isolate on board the vessel for the period of their stay in the Australian port or for a period that spans 14 days since leaving the province or mainland China (whichever is shortest). Such crew members are not to have personal interaction with Australian based maritime industry staff.

ABBOTT POINT
Confirmation emails sent to MSQ VTS need to be forwarded to Abbot Point terminal. Crew originating from China, to wear approved PPE including face masks.

DALRYMPLE BAY COAL TERMINAL
Until further notice it is requested that Masters provide previous 3 discharge ports (in order) and Crew Nationality. Any vessels which have called in China during their previous 3 voyages forward Border Force Form 13’s. For vessel flagged as per point 1. DBCT Shipping Officers will not be boarding these vessels on berthing or sailing. All commercial documentation will continue to be produced for these shipments as such:
- Notice of Readiness emailed to Ships Masters for signing ahead of berthing (Or signed by the Ships Agent)
- Shippers Declaration (DBCT to email signed copy to Master ahead of berthing)
- Load Sequence (Master to sign and email)
- Ship-loading Authority ((Master to sign and email)
- SOF (On completion of loading DBCT will email a signed copy of the SOF which the Master will in-turn email a signed and stamped copy prior to the vessel departing)
- Mates Receipt (On completion of loading DBCT will email a signed copy of the SOF which the Master will in-turn email a signed and stamped copy prior to the vessel departing
- BOL’s (Following sailing, BOLS to be signed by Agents once released)
- Manifest (Following sailing, Manifest/s to be signed by Agents or by Master and emailed)
- Stow Plan (emailed to Master prior to sailing)

It is also requested that Ship crew wear gloves during the mooring and unmooring operations when passing lines to tugs, lines boat and shore line crew. Interaction on board is to be minimised to ensure only key personnel are present in the clean and sterilised Ships Office (Master and the Chief officer). It is requested that these personnel are wearing a mask.

GLADSTONE
Shell QGC LNG Terminal - Questionnaire to be completed and sent to Prelude prior to vessel arrival.
Supply copy of the vessel’s quarantine clearance
Have any crew been in high risk locations* in the last 14 days?
In the last 14 days have any crew had close contact with people, who themselves, had been in a high-risk location in the fortnight previously?
Have any crew had close contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus?
(Only for when there is a ‘yes’ answer to any of the above 3 questions)
Do the crew who meet at least one of the above 3 criteria have a fever, cold or flu symptoms?
Have any crew been in medium risk locations* in the last 14 days?
Do any crew have fever, cold or flu symptoms?
Does the Master have any other concerns about coronavirus risk for his/her crew?

NEW SOUTH WALES PORTS (Newcastle, Sydney, Port Kembla, Eden)
Masters of all ships due to arrive at our ports are required to declare their last 5 ports of call and confirm that they have no crew members showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus on-board; Where novel coronavirus is evident, Port Authority employees will not be required to board the vessel; and, Port Authority will delay pilotage services to ships that have transited directly from China, which have been at sea for less than the 14-day quarantine period.

GERALDTON
Mid-West Port Authority are asking all vessels to confirm that all crew are all in good health and that no crew are suffering from any symptoms that may be related to the Coronavirus. Common signs observed in people infected by 2019-nCoV are: Fever, Cough, Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, Pneumonia, Severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Email confirmation from the Captain to the Marine Department ([email protected]) will be required 24 hours before Pilot on Board.

PORT HEDLAND
ABF Ship Pre-Arrival Report Form 13 to ABF please copy in the AMSA Port Hedland office.

PRELUDE
Questionnaire to be completed and sent to Prelude prior to vessel arrival.
Supply copy of the vessel’s quarantine clearance Have any crew been in high risk locations* in the last 14 days?
In the last 14 days have any crew had close contact with people, who themselves, had been in a high-risk location in the fortnight previously?
Have any crew had close contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus?
(Only for when there is a ‘yes’ answer to any of the above 3 questions)
Do the crew who meet at least one of the above 3 criteria have a fever, cold or flu symptoms?
Have any crew been in medium risk locations* in the last 14 days?
Do any crew have fever, cold or flu symptoms?
Does the Master have any other concerns about coronavirus risk for his/her crew?

DARWIN
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.

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