Maritime Regulation COVID-19 Sint Eustatius July 2nd 2020

Geldend van 02-07-2020 t/m heden

Intitulé

Maritime Regulation COVID-19 Sint Eustatius July 2nd 2020

Whereas

  • -

    in the Netherlands, but also worldwide, there is a pandemic caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19);

  • -

    COVID-19 is a group A infectious disease;

  • -

    the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management decreed on July 1st , 2020, to extend the Regeling Tijdelijk verbod burgerlijke luchtvaart luchtruim Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba (Regulation Temporary Ban on Civil Aviation Airspace Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) until August 1st 2020, 18:00 hours local time;

  • -

    the government-commissioner by emergency decrees of March 27th , up to and including July 1st 2020, has closed and/or strictly regulated all ports used for passenger travel;

  • -

    the Government Commissioner of St. Eustatius, in pursuant to chapter 5 paragraphs 2 and 6 of the Public Health Act (Wet publieke gezondheid), provides for the prevention of an epidemic of an infectious disease belonging to group A of infectious diseases;

  • -

    the medical capacity of the hospital and health service is under pressure;

  • -

    in order to prevent further spread of the coronavirus/ COVID-19, several protocols were set in place from March 26th, up to and including June 8th 2020 by the maritime sector, for vessels other than the cargo vessels coming to the city pier;

  • -

    it is desired to have the procedures established by the abovementioned protocol, adopted into an official regulation;

The government-commissioner of Sint Eustatius has decided to adopt the following Regulation regarding the execution of the Public Health Act in connection with COVID-19 for vessels other than cargo vessels coming to the city pier

Article 1 Reporting duty

  • 1. The master of ship shall, in accordance to the International Health regulations (IHR 2005 art 37), deliver both the Maritime Declaration of Health and the Health Clearance questionnaire (see appendix) 24 hours prior to arrival in our ports

  • 2. All crew or passengers that have joined the ship within the last thirty days, shall be reported to the port authority in accordance with the IHR.

  • 3. The reports mentioned in paragraph 1 and 2 of this article are to be conveyed to the harbor master through the usual channels.

Article 2 Precautions

Anyone boarding any ship travelling from international waters must:

  • a.

    put on PPE, meeting at least the minimum requirement face mask or respirator, coverall, close eye goggles and gloves. Failure to comply with this will result in admission to the ship being denied.

  • b.

    avoid meeting with ship’s crew in closed quarters where ventilation systems might recirculate air, and must remain on deck, bridge wing or wheelhouse.

  • c.

    keep a safe distance of one and a half meters from the nearest person at all times.

  • d.

    wash hands prior to and after boarding with soap or sanitize with alcohol.

  • e.

    maintain proper sneezing etiquette by sneezing in a tissue or elbow.

Article 3 Category ships

  • 1. Ships falling under this regulation can be placed in one of the following categories:

    • a.

      Type 1 – No physical contact, communication via VHF, buckets and or pouch only

    • b.

      Type 2 Green light – “Pilots only”.

    • c.

      Type 2 Green light – “4 or 8 entries in the visitors logbook only” if the time between last contact in last port is 14 or less than 14 days.

    • d.

      Type 2 Green light – “12 entries in the visitors logbook only” if the time between last contact in last port is more than 14 days

    • e.

      Type 2 Red light.

  • 2. The ships are placed in the categories by the Public Health department based on the reports provided under article 1.

  • 3. The master shall report a change in the medical situation onboard immediately to the harbor master and agent. As a result of this, the in paragraph 2 mentioned placement of category will automatically be revoked. The present visitors will have to leave the vessel and the vessel needs to be interviewed before any new visitors are allowed to board the vessel again.

  • 4. The Public Health Department can deviate from the flow charts (see appendix) whenever deemed necessary.

Article 4 Access prohibited and persons allowed

  • 1. At no point will anyone be allowed to board a type 1 or a type 2 Red light categorized vessel.

  • 2. The following persons, entities or representatives thereof are allowed to board type 2 Green light “Pilots "only” categorized vessel: Only pilots are allowed to board these vessels.

  • 3. The following persons, entities or representatives thereof are allowed to board type 2 Green light “4, 8 or 12 entries in the visitors logbook only”: Pilots, samplers, cargo representatives, cargo inspectors, PSC- and Health Department officers.

  • 4. In total not more than 4, 8 or 12 entries (2 pilots + 2, 6 or 10 others) in the port log, per port call are permitted. The max amount of persons will be indicated on the Health Department “Health Clearance”

  • 5. The PSC- and Health Department officers will not be counted in relation to the maximum persons allowed onboard.

  • 6. Nobody is allowed inside the accommodation except the PSC- and Health Department officers and the person mentioned in article 6 paragraph 6.

  • 7. In extraordinary circumstances, e.g. multiple buyers on a vessel with multiple layers of cargo, the agent and or the GTI terminal can ask the Health Department for an exemption of the maximum persons allowed onboard.

Article 5 Type 1 vessels

  • 1. Exchange of documents and samples required for type 1 vessel will only be done by buckets, baskets and or pouches and communication shall only be done via VHF-radio.

  • 2. Shell doors are not allowed to be used by the line boats

  • 3. The crew on the line boat deck and / or barge deck needs to wear face mask and gloves during pouch, hose or bucket transfer.

Article 6 Requirements and restrictions type 2 Green light “Pilots "only” categorized vessel

  • 1. Only the, in article 4 paragraph 2 mentioned persons and the PSC- and Health Department officers are allowed to board these vessels.

  • 2. These persons have to wear their PPE as mentioned in article 2.

  • 3. The pilots have to be escorted via the outside stairs to the bridge.

  • 4. The crew who escorts the pilot to the bridge and the bridge team shall wear at least gloves and face mask.

  • 5. The pilots who boarded the vessels shall afterwards report their physical status and body temperature on a daily basis to the Health Department.

  • 6. Only the pilot who stays on a Single Point Mooring (SPM) ship is allowed inside the accommodation of the SPM vessel.

  • 7. Pilot, PSC- and Health Department officers working hours 24/7.

Article 7 Requirements and restrictions type 2 Green light “4, 8 or 12 entries in the visitors logbook only” categorized vessel

  • 1. Only the, in article 4 paragraph 3 mentioned persons are allowed to board these vessels.

  • 2. These persons have to wear their PPE as mentioned in article 2.

  • 3. The pilots have to be escorted via the outside stairs to the bridge.

  • 4. The crew who escorts the pilot to the bridge and the bridge team shall wear at least gloves and face mask.

  • 5. Pilot and visitors working hours 24/7.

Article 7.1 Additional requirement and restriction type 2 Green light “4 entries in the visitor’s logbook only” categorized vessel

The pilots who boarded the vessels “4 entries in the log book only” shall afterwards report their physical status and body temperature on a daily basis to the Health Department. The other persons who boarded the vessel shall, only in case of sickness or high body temperature, report themselves to the Health Department.

Article 8 Barges and Tug boats

Only the in article 4 paragraph 2 mentioned persons and the PSC- and Health Department officers are allowed to board these vessels.

Article 9 Quarantine

Vessels that fall in the category of type 2 red light will be placed under quarantine outside the territorial waters.

Article 10 Visitors Log

All type 2 vessels shall, after departure, send a copy of the visitors log St Eustatius to the ships agent, who will forwarded it to the Health Department.

Article 11 Implementation

  • 1. This regulation goes into effect on July 2nd 2020 at 00:00 hours.

  • 2. Upon entry into force of this regulation, the Regulation of the government-commissioner of June 8th regarding the execution of the Public Health Act in connection with COVID-19 for vessels other than cargo vessels coming to the city pier, is repealed.

  • 3. Decisions made based on the regulation mentioned in paragraph 2 remain valid and are considered to be made based on this regulation.

  • 4. This regulation can be quoted as Maritime Regulation COVID-19 Sint Eustatius July 2nd 2020

Ondertekening

The government-commissioner July 1st 2020

Mr. M.L.A. van Rij*

* As per article 3 paragraph 2 of the Temporary task neglect Sint Eustatius act

Flow chart “ships coming for bunker, drop samples or cargo operations"

afbeelding binnen de regeling

Health Clearance Questionnaire

St Eustatius Health Department Clearance Questionnaire

To be filled in by the captain and to be send to the agent one day (24 hours) before arrival

Estimated date and time of arrival

Ships name

Total amount of crew onboard

Is there any crew member sick at this moment; if yes, describe the symptoms or diagnose

Has / had any crew member a body temperature above 37 0C; Please send the temperature log from the last 14 days to your agent?

Is any crew member showing any of the COVID-19 symptoms: flu, fever, cough and / or cold

Were there any entries made in the Medical log. Please send a copy of the medical log (names to be covered for privacy reasons) from the last 4 weeks to your agent?

Have there any visitors and / or pilots boarding your vessel in previous ports.

Please send a copy of the visitors log from the last 4 weeks to your agent?

Describe the ship’s protocol for visitors who want to board the vessel, name at least:

Temp. taken by crew (yes or no), compulsory PPE, COVID questionnaire in use (yes or no) allowed in- or outside the accommodation, Pilots via outside staircase (yes or no), deck office installed etc.

Did any person go ashore for a doctor, dentist or other reason? If yes; which port, date, the amount of persons the visit details (PPE, taxi, duration etc.)

Was there any crew change during the last 4 weeks? If yes, which port, date, amount of persons, their itinerary, if applicable the details of the overnights, country, city and duration

I declare that the above is the truth and I am aware that hiding or falsifying the situation onboard can have serious consequences.

Name captain: ………………………………………….

Signature captain: ……………………………………

Instructions questionnaire:

This questionnaire is a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore you have to tell the truth, not telling the truth can have serious consequences.

Required attachments to the “health clearance mail” to the agent:

  • 1)

    This completely filled in Health Department clearance questionnaire

  • 2)

    Copy of the crew temperature log; from the last two weeks

  • 3)

    Copy of the medical log (names covered for privacy reason); from the last four weeks

  • 4)

    Copy of the visitors log; from the last four weeks

  • 5)

    Completely filled in Maritime Health Declaration

  • 6)

    Last 10 ports of call

  • 7)

    Crew list

Instructions before the green light is given:

Raise and fly the yellow “Q” flag on arrival. Nobody is allowed to board the vessel until the vessel received clearance from the Health Department.

Instructions when the green light is given:

On the Health Department Clearance you will receive the instructions in relation to:

  • 1)

    Who and how many people are allowed to board your vessel during the whole stay in St Eustatius port

  • 2)

    Which PPE has to be worn by visitors and crew during which operations

  • 3)

    Social distancing

  • 4)

    Allowing visitors inside the accommodation

  • 5)

    If there is a breach of the protocol by shore personnel e.g. more or unauthorized people want to board your vessel, deny access and report this breach of protocol to your agent or St Eustatius harbor (harbour@statiagov.com)

Instructions if the situation onboard changes:

When the situation onboard changed, in relation to any of the questions, after the health clearance has been given, the harbor authorities (harbour@statiagov.com) and the agent have to be informed immediately.

The issued health clearance is then no longer valid and the ship needs to be interviewed before a new health clearance can be issued.