Recently, Chinese ports are strengthening epidemic prevention and control measures on vessels having changed crew overseas within 14 days, especially for Filipino seafarers or vessels that have changed crew members in the Philippines, data by local correspondents Huatai Marine reveals.
This comes as the Philippines resumed crew change in this July and more and more vessels changed their crew in the country. Actually, a number of crew members from the Philippines were detected COVID-19 positive at Zhoushan, Guangdong and Tianjin etc., Huatai informs.
In response to the above, some Chinese ports have strengthened epidemic prevention and control measures. Some ports implemented more strict measures for vessels which had changed crew in the Philippines within 14 days. Some other ports strengthened control measures for all vessels which had changed crew overseas within 14 days, whether in the Philippines or not.
The updated control measures at Chinese main ports include but not limited to the following:
-Dalian
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, all/part of the crew members on board need to receive nucleic acid test.
-Bayuquan
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, she has to drop anchor at the anchorage and entry application will only be granted 14 days after the date of crew change.
-Tianjin
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, the Customs shall conduct sampling and testing on the newly changed crew members. The vessel is only permitted to commence cargo operation if the test results are negative.
-Qingdao
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, she has to drop anchor at the anchorage and entry application will only be granted 14 days after the date of crew change.
-Shanghai
No specific regulations for Filipino crew members or crew members embarked in the Philippines.
-Inland ports close to Shanghai:
- Zhenjiang: If the vessel has changed its crew within 14 days before its arrival, the vessel is required to report to the Customs in advance and wait for further instructions. Quarantine may be conducted at the anchorage first.
- Changshu: If the vessel has called at a foreign port or changed its crew within 14 days before its arrival, the Customs shall conduct sampling and testing on the crew members. The vessel is only permitted to commence cargo operation if the test results are negative.
- Zhangjiagang: If the vessel has called at a foreign port or changed its crew within 14 days before its arrival, the Customs shall conduct sampling and testing on the crew members. The vessel is permitted to commence cargo operation while waiting for the test results.
-Ningbo
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, the Customs and other departments will carry out risk assessment on the vessel. The nucleic acid test will be conducted if the Customs deem necessary. Berthing schedule will only be fixed if the test results are negative.
-Zhoushan
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, she has to drop anchor at the anchorage and entry application will only be granted 14 days after the date of crew change.
-Xiamen
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, newly changed crew members should receive nucleic acid tests and the cargo operation could only be commenced if the results are negative.
-Guangzhou
If the vessel has changed its crew overseas within 14 days before its arrival, whether the crew were changed in the Philippines or not, all/part of the crew members on board have to receive the nucleic acid test. The vessel is only permitted to commence cargo operation if the test results are negative.
-Zhuhai
Though there is no official declaration, vessels that have recently changed crew in the Philippines are not permitted to call at the port. If the vessel has changed her crew in other countries within 14 days before its arrival, she is only permitted to take her berth 14 days after the date of crew change.
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