South Korea will take additional steps to support local shipping companies and passenger ferry operators, amidst increasing concerns over economic impacts due to the global spread of the new coronavirus.
Specifically, South Korea will distribute 60 billion won (US$49.7 million) for passenger line operators and port cargo handling firms, Yonhap news agency reports. However, in addition to these measure, the country will also provide around 90 billion won in low-interest loans of around 2% to local shipping firms, if the coronavirus continues for more than three months. Each company will be able apply for up to 5 billion won.
The deadline for the mandatory installment of environment-friendly equipment on ships, originally set for end-March, will be delayed until three months after the new coronavirus is fully terminated. South Korea will also lend support to passenger line operators.
The country has pledged to fully exempt the firms from port dues until their schedules to China are normalized, extending the policy for operators of Japanese routes as well.
In the meantime, Korean ferry operators saw their number of passengers fall more than 80% over the February 1-26 period from a year earlier, due to coronavirus fears.
South Korea has reported the most cases outside China, with its patients exceeding 5.000. The country has also reported 28 deaths.
The new coronavirus has cost the lives of 3,117 people, while confirmed cases exceed 90,000. What is more, except from China, coronavirus cases have been reported in other countries in Asia, such as Malaysia and Japan, in Australia, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, the US and Canada, among others.
In addition, South Korea has implemented the following measures against the coronavirus:
Restrictions on vessels whose previous port call was China
- All vessels sailed out from Chinese port or have called any Chinese port for the past 14 days requires onboard quarantine inspection. Free pratique will only be granted after passing the inspection.
Restrictions on crew changes etc for Chinese seafarers or those who embarked in China
- The following crew/passenger are restricted to enter Korea
a) All Chinese seafarers with passport issued in Hubei province is prohibited to enter Korea
b) All valid Korean visa issued in Hubei province has temporarily lost its effect until further notice.
c) All foreigners that have visited Hubei province in the past 14 days is prohibited to enter Korea.
d) All foreigners transit without visa to Jeju Island in Korea has temporarily lost its effect.
3. Other potential restrictions due to Coronavirus
- All crews ( Chinese, Filipino, Indian..) who intend to join/disembark to/from the vessel in Korea are allowed to enter Korea require a VISA. Transit passengers without a VISA for Chinese and foreigners from China will not be allowed.
- Hong Kong and Macau are now designated as countries affected by Coronavirus. Fever monitoring of all crew and crew members of vessels arriving from Hong Kong and Macau and a concentrated quarantine inspection for all crews and passengers will be conducted.
- Cruise vessels are not allowed to call at any port in Korea temporarily. However, if the cruise vessel needs bunkering and store supplies without disembarking from the vessel, she can call at anchorage only.
