In response to the growing spread of the Zika virus, South Korea has developed preventative measures and issued updated Zika virus Prevention and Quarantine Guidelines. The Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare declared Zika virus as a legal infectious disease on the 29th of January, 2016.
The Club’s Correspondent in South Korea has advised the Club that strengthened quarantine inspection requirements at Korean port are currently in force for vessels arriving from 24 Countries and territories identified as infected by Zika virus.
Applies to vessels arriving at Korea calling from countries and territories identified to be infected (including transit): Cape Verde, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Mexico, Barbados, Venezuela, Brazil, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto to Rico, French Guiana, Guadeloupe Island, (the Republic of) Nicaragua, (the Republic of) Honduras, (the Kingdom of) Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa, Republic of Suriname, and Thailand.
- Vessels which have called at one of the listed countries prior to arrival in Korea within the previous 14 days are to submit the Self-Disinfection Certificate prior to arrival at Korean port and to have an on-board quarantine inspection and to submit the Health Questionnaire (including monitoring temperature/fever) completed by the crews/passengers.
- Vessels which have called at one of the listed countries prior to arrival in Korea within 15days ~ 30days to submit the Self-Disinfection Certificate prior to arrival at Korean port and to have Ship Sanitation Control Inspection afterwards.
Points to note:
- If Self-Disinfection Certificate is not submitted prior to arrival, the vessel will be required to carry out disinfection by a local disinfection company and the ship may have movement restricted.
- If the vessel is from infected/outbreak countries as a transit, disinfection is considered to be completed by submitting the certificate dated within the 30 days to the date of arrival at Korean port.
- Cargo operation can be started after completion of the disinfection.
- If there is any mosquito, larvae or mosquito eggs found during the on board quarantine inspection, the vessel is to carry out disinfection by local disinfection company.
To date, there are no reported cases of Zika virus infection in Korea. However, as the strengthening of quarantine inspections at Korean ports is on going, it is recommended that Members contact their local agents for more updated information prior to arriving in Korea in order to avoid any delays.
Source: The UK P&I Club
