Hong Kong informed that from 8 January, any vessel which has been to China within seven days, crew signing off must take a PCR test before disembarking.
For vessels which have only been to other countries within seven days, signing off crew only require to have a negative RAT test result.
Local anti-epidemic measures will be further adjusted. All persons (including sea crews) arriving Hong Kong on board vessels are required to follow the requirements of normal inbound persons.
In a similar move, crew disembarking or taking shore leave at Korean ports from vessels whose last port of call was in China must undergo a PCR test and quarantine for one day.
On the other hand, China confirmed significant changes to its COVID-19 policies, regarding crew on commercial ships and crew changes as well.
More specifically, after three years of a strict no COVID policy, China continues its steps to relax travel bands, requirements for quarantine, and tests, despite a new surge in a variant in parts of the country.
As a matter of fact, on January 8 the country reopened its borders for international travel, and people entering the country are no longer required to quarantine but must still provide proof of a negative PCR test done at least 48 hours before their travel.
