Scotland exempts seafarers from hotel quarantine

The Scottish government exempted seafarers returning home to Scotland, from hotel quarantine measures. In fact, the change came into effect on 20 March.

To remind, hotel quarantine exemptions for seafarers were first introduced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 19 March 2021.

As Scottish Government explained:

If you are a seafarer (seamen and masters, pilots and inspectors or surveyors of ships) travelling to Scotland to work in the Common Travel Area (United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands) as part of your work, you do not need to enter managed isolation. This is the case no matter where you have travelled from.

If you are not travelling as part of your work

What is more, if you are not travelling as part of your work, you will be directed to managed isolation. Returning to shore for a period of leave is not classed as travelling as part of your work.

If you are a seafarer returning to Scotland from any country for a period of leave you will need to enter managed isolation if you:

• arrive in Scotland by air
• are not under contract to work in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man

If you are being repatriated

Some seafarers who are being repatriated, as defined in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 or the Work in Fishing Convention 2007, do not need to isolate.

See also: UK MCA: What to know when booking a hotel for a 10-day quarantine

Who these exemptions apply to

These exemptions apply if you fall within one of the following categories:

1. seamen and masters as defined in section 313(1) Merchant Shipping Act 1995
2. maritime pilots as defined in para 22(1) of schedule 3A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995
3. inspectors and surveyors of ships appointed under section 256 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 or by a government of a relevant British possession as defined in section 313(1) of that Act

Further requirements

• Evidence must be provided at port of entry for repatriation and/or travelling in the course of work.
• You need to complete the passenger locator form before you travel to Scotland, if you travel in a part of the vessel that is accessible to any passenger for any part of the journey.
• You do not need to complete the passenger locator form if you travel in a part of the vessel that is not accessible to passengers or you travel on a vessel that does not carry passengers, for example, fishing boats.
• You do not need to take a coronavirus test before you travel to Scotland if you are a seafarer, inspector or surveyor of ships or fisherman due to work on a vessel or need to transit the UK to join or leave a vessel. You should show a valid SID if you have one.
• You do not need to take a coronavirus test on day 2 and day 8 after arrival in the UK.
• When you are in an acute risk country you should take additional precautions to minimise contact with others.
• If you work on a ship, including fishermen, you should show a Seafarer’s Identification Document (SID) if you have one.
• If you don’t have a SID, you can show your joining papers, seafarer’s employment agreement or a seafarer’s discharge book (Continuous Certificate of Discharge) instead. Alternatively, you could show a basic training certificate or declaration from the registered owners of the vessel that you are a crew member.