The US Coast Guard (USCG) issued a new safety bulletin focusing on the safety requirements needed to stay protected from COVID-19 in the maritime transportation system.
The Marine Safety Information Bulletin 02-21 “COVID-19 Safety Requirements in the Maritime Transportation System” urges all passengers that are to travel on commercial vessels to wear a mask.
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Specifically, the President issued Executive Order (13998), Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel that requires masks be worn on all “public maritime vessels, including ferries” to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.
Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued order, Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks while on Transportation Hubs, requires all persons traveling on all commercial vessels to wear a mask.
Therefore, it is advised that conveyance operators use best efforts to ensure that any person on the conveyance wears a mask when boarding, disembarking, and for the duration of travel. Depending on the circumstances, best efforts may include:
- boarding only those persons who wear masks;
- instructing persons that Federal law requires wearing a mask on the conveyance and failure to comply constitutes a violation of Federal law;
- monitoring persons onboard the conveyance for anyone who is not wearing a mask and seeking compliance from such persons;
- at the earliest opportunity, disembarking any person who refuses to comply;
- providing persons with prominent and adequate notice to facilitate awareness and compliance of the requirement of this Order to wear a mask; best practices may include, if feasible,
- advanced notifications on digital platforms, such as on apps, websites, or email; posted signage in multiple languages with illustrations; printing the requirement on transit tickets; or other methods as appropriate.
In addition, USCG notes that
Persons that wish to report vessels not operating in accordance with the Executive Order or CDC Order may email the Coast Guard at [email protected] … If there is an emergency, it should not be reported to this email inbox, but rather to local authorities through proper emergency channels.
Given the stress arising in regards to wearing a mask on a daily basis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published a video presenting when and how to wear a mask.
