Black Sea MoU issued an overview of COVID-19 measures applying to PSC officers in its six member countries: Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. The list is updated as of 15 June 2021.
Bulgaria
- Actual status of inspection efforts: Risk for each individual PI, PII ship is assessed and it is considered whether to inspect the ship or not.
- Additional measures in relation to planning: Comply with the instructions of the Health Authorities. Constant screening of all arriving ships by Maritime Single Window-Bulgaria, and other available systems and resources.
- Additional measures in relation to boarding (eg. PPE): The inspectors must use protective gloves, mouth masks, protecting overall, no food or drink onboard, no handshake, max. 2 inspectors + 2 crew members in one place keepring distance >1.5m , every 15 minutes cleaning hands with disinfecting gel.
- Additional comments/ measures: ALWAYS consult with Regional coordinators and in case of doubt with National Coordinator prior to boarding the vessel.
- Minimum period, if imposed, for measures: Emergency epidemic situation until end of July 2021.
Georgia
- Actual status of inspection efforts: All ships with PI status, PII and high risk carriers are inspected, after a verification of all risk factors regarding the COVID 19.
- Additional measures in relation to planning: Upon receprion of Ship’s Prearrival information, all ship’s and crew certificates are carefully checked electronicaly before the ship enters the port in order to reduce the time required for phisical inspection in the port.
- Additional measures in relation to boarding (eg. PPE): PSC officers are instructed to follow the anti COVID-19 precautionary measures. Use proper PPE, keep social distance, do not shake hands, do not eat, do not drink, avoid contact with the environment as much as possible and shorten the time spent on the ship.
- Additional comments/ measures: PSC officers don’t spend any time in the office. They work from home and attend the vessel when necessary.
- Minimum period, if imposed, for measures: Until further notice.
Romania
- Actual status of inspection efforts: Only P I high risk, P I and overriding factor ships, after verification of all risk factors regarding COVID 19.
- Additional measures in relation to planning: In relation to planning inspection, we check all information regarding COVID 19, such as: last ten port of calls (taking in account affected countries by COVID 19), and keep it caution regarding a period of 14 days from last port of call if the vessel comes from an area affected strongly by COVID 19 disease. Screening pre-arrival notification, agent confirmation info regarding health condition of the crew members on ship’s arrival
- Additional measures in relation to boarding (eg. PPE): We use onboard vessel protective equipment as follow: plastic gloves, mouth caps, protective suits single use. No shake hands, washing hands before and after, distance 2 m in close space, one inspector per inspection, avoid food and drink on board.
- Additional comments/ measures: A communication mode was implemented under specific conditions of the pandemic (not face to face), between Romanian PSC National Coordinator and PSC Inspectors, for ship’s inspection distribution. Every morning PSC National Coordinator organizes a teleconference with the inspectors group, before getting onboard.
- Minimum period, if imposed, for measures: Until further notice.
- Possible criteria for re-commencement of inspections, if applicable: Romania PSC inspection, regarding Covid 19, are carried out under following conditions: Compliance with Minister of Health and local health authorities instructions; According to IMO, ILO and Paris MoU resolutions, circulars, instructions; Before selecting ships for inspection, National coordinator assess the risk of the ship and decide if it will be inspected by PSCO; During inspection, PSCO shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment and all necessary precautions measures according to instructions for the prevention of Covid 19 diseases.
Russia
- Actual status of inspection efforts: Inspections are resumed in the normal way taking into account whether the conduct of the inspection would create a risk to the safety of the ship, inspectors, its crew or to the port.
- Additional measures in relation to planning: Screening via pre-arrival notification and information received from local Health Authorities (arrived vessels crewmembers body temperature control and any signs of epidemic disease on board as well as Report of Disinfection made on vessels arriving at roadstead or berth by Health Authorities representatives).
- Additional measures in relation to boarding (eg. PPE): We instruct our PSC Officers that is forbidden to have food and drink on board, no handshake, all meetings in Master’s cabin max. 2 inspectors with two crew member’s staff with proper distancing > 1,5m. After leaving cleaning hands with disinfecting materials before and after. PSC Officers are instructed to use PPE (medical mask, plastic gloves) during vessels’ inspections. For indoor inspection, we advise our PSC Officers to follow the Disinfection report issued by Health Authorities to avoid vessel’s zones that are not disinfected
- Additional comments/ measures: Domestic vessels continue to be inspected after requisite health authority check/risk assessment. For foreign vessels – PSC Officers have been instructed to collect vessel remember body’s temperature chart and Report of Disinfection upon arrival to the port. For any doubts, Emergency list of contact of local Health Organizations for notification and consulting shall be used.
- Minimum period, if imposed, for measures: Until further notice.
Turkey
- Actual status of inspection efforts: Flexible/rotational work system has also been implemented in Harbor Master Offices, including PSCOs as well, in accordance with the Presidency Circular on “Measures for Government Workers in Scope of Covid 19” issued latest. However, Flag and Port State Inspections seriously continue in the normal period by taking the necessary safety and health measures.
- Additional measures in relation to planning: All foreign flagged ships visiting the Turkish ports should submitt a “MARITIME DECLARATION OF HEALTH” to the Ministry of Health (Directorate General of Health for Border and Coastal Areas of Turkey). The relevant PSC office contacts with the ship agent about result of the relevant ship’s healthy inspection result before carriying out a PSC inspection. The PSC inspections should be carried out after finish of ships’ healthy inspections.
- Additional measures in relation to boarding (eg. PPE): The PSC inspections should be carried out in compliance with mask, social distance (>1.5m) and hygiene rules, in addition to the use of PPEs. Minimum contact and avoiding food and drink on board should be provided. The PSC inspectors should also be careful about that ship crew members also in compliance with the health rules and use of PPEs.
- Additional comments/ measures: In line with the health decisions of the National Science Board (under the Ministry of Health) and the Provincial Pandemic Committees about the situation of Covid-19 pandemic, additional measures can be taken and the PSC activities may be reorganized.
- Minimum period, if imposed, for measures: Until further notice.
Ukraine
- Actual status of inspection efforts: Inspections are carried out in a normal way.
- Additional measures in relation to planning: Screening via pre-arrival notification.
- Additional measures in relation to boarding (eg. PPE): PSC Officers are instructed to follow the anti-COVID-19 precautionary measures. Using personal protective equipment.
- Additional comments/ measures: –
- Minimum period, if imposed, for measures: Until further notice.
