Amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Scottish government has withdrawn quarantine exemptions for cruise crew, stating that seafarers must comply with its coronavirus international travel and managed isolation guidance.
To remind, back in March 2021, the country exempted seafarers returning home to Scotland from hotel quarantine measures.
However, from 25 May, all cruise crewmembers will have to follow Scotland’s ‘traffic light’ system for quarantine and testing.
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Namely, when returning home from amber or red list countries seafarers working in the cruise industry will have to either self-isolate or enter hotel quarantine.
According to Nautilus International, the Scottish rules are stricter and more complex than those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Before travelling to Scotland from a red list country, seafarers need to:
- complete a passenger locator form
- take a Covid-19 test
- book a quarantine hotel package, including two Covid-19 tests
On arrival in Scotland, seafarers must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. If seafarers test positive for Covid-19 while in quarantine, they may need to quarantine for longer.
…Nautilus International explained.
Before travelling to Scotland from an amber list country, cruise crew need to:
- complete a passenger locator form
- take a Covid-19 test before travelling
- book and pay £170 for day two and day eight Covid-19 travel tests using the CTM Booking Portal. Any other type of testing kit, such as free NHS kits or those sold by private businesses, cannot be used
On arrival in Scotland cruise crew must:
- Isolate at home or in the place they are staying for 10 days
- take a Covid-19 test – on or before day two and on or after day eight of a 10 day isolation
Restrictions for travel to certain parts of the Common Travel Area (CTA) between Scotland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland also come into force on 25th May.
Concluding, speaking of cruise crew, the UK Department for Transport announced that from 19th May 2021, all cruise industry crewmembers are no longer exempted from the requirement to enter managed quarantine for 10 days.
