The London P&I Club has published follow-up advice on Requirement of MEC for vessels from ZIKA Affected Areas from Chinese Quarantine Authority.
Operators will already be aware of the Zika prevention measures required by the Chinese Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ). These measures include the provision of a Mosquito Eradication Certificate (MEC) in circumstances where the vessel’s last port of call was in a Zika affected area.
Singapore has been added to the list of Affected Areas. Notably, an MEC will be required if personnel are either embarked/disembarked from the ship or if cargo operations are performed. However, there is no requirement for an MEC the vessel is only stopping for bunkers unless personnel are transferred between barge and ship. Vessel operators may wish to take this development into consideration when arranging bunkering operations or change of crew.
As CIQ requirements may vary from port to port and there is no prescribed wording for the MEC certificate, the Club recommends that Owners consult their local agents once the Chinese port of call is known to verify the specific requirements of that particular port. It also suggest an appropriate wording to be included in any MEC to assist with a possible inspection in China.
Further information may be found in the Circular below
Source: London P&I Club
