Informing Party

Caribbean Marine

Firma CS Gorsira JP Ez

Date

8 February

Summary of Advice

Passengers must complete Migracion Colombia’s Check-Mig immigration form and follow other protocols upon arrival. For further information, see the Colombian Health Ministry announcement.

Curacao Port Authority (CPA) has confirmed on April 9th, 2020 the continuity of following measures:

• Vessel traffic has been restricted to only cargo, repair and bunkering supply.
• A protocol regarding the COVID 19 has to be accomplished 72hrs prior vessel arrival. The Master has to send the Health Declaration during this period. Vessels calling at the container or breakbulk terminals should follow measures from Curacao Port Authority.
• Spares parts or shipments sent to vessels and landed for export can still be delivered in port and off port taking in consideration the altered scheduled of the transportation by air and sea cargo.

8 February: The Government have implemented new requirements on vessels entering Curacao. Crews of ships must:

• Keep a daily record of the temperature and Covid-19 related symptoms for every on board.
• Submit a Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH) at least 24 hours prior to their arrival in Curacao.
• Report any medical conditions related to Covid-19 immediately to Curacao.
• Apply all necessary measures if there is a suspicion of Covid-19 contamination on board (isolation, quarantine, testing, quarantine policy, source-case and contact tracing investigation).

It will be determined, based on the information received, whether it is necessary to perform additional PCR tests before the crew is authorized to disembark.

Crews of private ships/recreational vessels must provide documentation from all ports visited prior to their arrival in Curacao. Documentation should also be submitted with any evidence of previous PCR test. Where possible, the Passenger Locator Card (PLC) should be submitted prior to arrival. If this is not possible, the PLC must be submitted immediately upon arrival of the ship in Curacao

Medical Assistance

Willemstad Terminal allows crew medical treatment for non-COVID-19 injuries & illnesses if urgent and sufficient guarantees can be given that patient is non-infected.

Crew Changes Allowed?

Crew changes are permitted. All crew changes are subject to approval by the Curacao Covid Crisis team. The following documents must be presented at least 5 days before the change of crew: a copy of the passport, Seamans book, medical statement, statement of the ship’s maritime health, any other information.

Curacao is operating restrictions for low and high risk countries. The authorities are updating a countries risk classification weekly. Further details can be found at https://www.curacao.com/en/questions/health-and-vaccinations/response-to-novel-coronavirus-covid-19.

Travel from low risk countries

Travellers from low risk countries are required to complete a digital immigration card and a Passenger Locator Card before departure. These can be completed online at dicardcuracao.com.

Travel from high risk countries

Countries not mentioned above are considered high risk. Passengers from these countries, before their departure, must comply with the mandatory steps for passengers from low-risk countries, additionally, they must show the negative result of a certified COVID-19 PCR test and upload a printed test of this document. The test is taken a maximum of 72 hours before departure, in an accredited laboratory. Negative COVID-19 PCR test results must be recorded at dicardcuracao.com prior to departure.

Entry conditions that apply to all travellers (from low and high risk countries):

• If you have been in contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to arrival, they will be placed in mandatory quarantine.
• You must carry a printed document that certifies the mandatory steps that you must follow during the trip.
• You must be properly insured for medical care and any additional expenses in case you must be in quarantine or if you become ill during your stay.

Informing Party

Caribbean Marine

Cariconsult

Date

2 November

Summary of Advice

Since March 21, 2020 the government of Aruba implemented limited transportation from 21:00 to 06:00 hrs. some exceptions may apply with authorization. Sanctions were imposed for citizens who violate this provision.

Suspension of incoming international flights. No person may enter the country, this restriction also counts for the residents of Aruba. Empty flights can only arrive to pick up passengers leaving Aruba to take them to their destination.

A standard pre-arrival documents will be followed, an additional Marine Health Declaration form has to be submitted.

Passengers ships calls are temporarily suspended. Cargo, repair, bunker, load/discharge calls remain possible as normal. Offshore attendance continues as normal.

All ports in Aruba are open as normal.

4 June: The government of Aruba is in the process of lifting COVID-19 restrictions, the curfew has been amended to between 00:00 – 05:00.

19 June: Aruba’s borders are currently open to passengers travelling from neighbouring Bonaire and Curaçao.

16 July:  From 1 July travellers from the Caribbean (excluding the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Canada and Europe were permitted to enter the country,  followed by travellers from the United States from 10 July.

On arrival medical screening will be conducted at the airport. Arrivals from the USA are also required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result which is valid within 72 hours of boarding the flight to Aruba.

Entry into the country is subject to the completion of a new embarkation/disembarkation card which is available online.

30 October: Aruba is in the process of relaxing COVID-19 measures. The curfew has been replaced with and ‘area ban’ between 00:00 – 05:00 on beaches and coastal areas.

Ports continue to operate normally.

Medical Assistance

Medical assistance remains available for non-COVID19 injuries or illness and will be approved by the health authorities on a case by case basis.

Crew Changes Allowed?

Crew changes are permitted under the following conditions:

• The crew must wear a mask on the flight to Aruba
• Crew are transported directly from the airport to the seaport and vice versa (Overnight stay not allowed).
• Every traveller must be in good health (health declaration PCR).
• Seafarers are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test (PCR) before traveling and bring their test proof with them. Authorized PCR test applicable for Aruba is the nasal/oral specimen through PCR testing. Any other COVID-19 test is not accepted.
• Test must be done 72 hours prior to departure and uploaded not later than 12 hours prior to arrival.
• N95 (or equivalent) masks to be worn at all times (for everyone involved via the crew change)
• Social distancing to be observed
• Hand hygiene to be practiced
• Sanitizing of launch and taxi after each trip.
• Dedicated transportation to be arranged considering social distancing in the taxi / bus (need case: more taxis or busses). Windows will be open (no a/c), luggage to be handled by crew themselves
• No stops in between, other than at harbour immigration office.
• Mandatory ED card to be filled in – ED application must be completed within 12-72h prior to the travel on http://www.edcardaruba.aw.

Informing Party

SAPIC

Caribbean Marine

A&A Multiprime

Pandi Colombia

Date

25 February

Summary of Advice

12 February 2021: A crew members´ health declaration is mandatory to all ships and must be submitted 3 hours before the arrival to any Colombian Port. This declaration must include a record of the temperatures taken to the crew members. If the Harbour Master believes that there is a suspicious case of COVID 19 on board a determined vessel, the HM may order the vessel to proceed to the anchorage/quarantine area and quarantine for 14 days before berthing.

Each port is free to establish its biosecurity protocols following the guides provided by the Ministry of Health and DIMAR (highest maritime authority). In most ports, operations are running in an ordinary manner subject to essential biosecurity measures (temperature taking, mask use, social distancing, etc). However, some ports have established stricter measures, including the requirement of a negative COVID-19 test for the surveyors or even the compliance of some courses related to their biosecurity protocols.

Surveyors are able to enter all ports to attend all matters without any delays.

Except for human rights-related legal actions, in Colombian Civil Courts the legal terms were suspended from March 16th, 2020, to July 1st, 2020. The maritime jurisdiction (Harbour Masters and DIMAR) had a similar suspension between March 18th and July 5th. However, in both cases, hearings have been scheduled and developed remotely.

Medical Assistance

Disembarkation of crew members for medical emergencies is allowed with the following procedures:

1. If the medical emergency occurred prior to arrival, the Master must report the situation and send all the necessary information on the crew member’s medical condition (identification, symptoms and report the last 3 ports) to his maritime agent as soon as possible. The agents must then report the incident to the district authorities, to the Port Captaincy and finally to the Maritime terminal in order to activate the biosecurity protocols required by the Doctors to board the vessel and eventually disembark the crewmember.

2. If the medical emergency occurs during maritime operations in the terminal, the maritime agency must report it immediately and carrying out the same protocol mentioned previously, and, additionally, the Master must provide a detailed report of the incident.

COVID-19 Vaccination requirements

No information is known on seafarers COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Crew Changes Allowed?

Since 27 June 2020 (issuance of DIMAR´s Resolution No. 275), crew´s embarkment and disembarkment is authorized, but subject to strict biosecurity protocols that are implemented in each port.

On the 19 September 2020 international flights resumed operating from Colombia between the following countries: United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia and Guatemala.

16 November 2020: Arriving passengers are no longer required to obtain a negative COVID test to enter Colombia.

Passengers must complete Migracion Colombia’s Check-Mig immigration form and follow other protocols upon arrival. For further information, see the Colombian Health Ministry announcement.

31 December: From December 21 Columbia suspended flights to and from the UK, whether directly or by connection. This was as a result of a new strain of COVID-19 detected in the UK. Also, anyone arriving in the country after that date, who has been in the UK in the past 14 days, will go into isolation for 14 days upon arrival in the country.

11 January 2021: Passengers arriving in Colombia that do not hold a negative COVID-19 test result that was valid within 96 hours of boarding the flight have two options:

1. Undergo a COVID-19 test in Colombia and do preventive isolation until it has a negative result of it, or
2. Carry out preventive isolation for 14 days or during the term indicated by the health authority.

8 February 2021: Passenger flights to and from Brazil have been temporarily suspended to prevent infections from the new strain of COVID-19, starting on January 29 for a period of 30 days.

24 February 2021: Due to restrictions imposed by the Canadian government, Air Canada have suspended flights to and from Colombia until May 2021.

Informing Party

Cariconsult

Caribbean Marine

Schad Expertise

Wilhelmsen

Date

11 January

Summary of Advice

The National Epidemiological Monitoring System (SINAVE) must be notified of any person presenting symptoms of the virus. Notification to the National Liaison Centre for International Health Regulations (CNE-DIGEPI) could be performed by telephone, any day of the week, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at 1-(809) 686-9140 or toll free at 1-(809) 200-4091, from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, also via mobile phone (829)-542-7009.

17 March:

1. Cruise ships are not being allowed to dock in Dominican ports for the period of 30 days as of today 16th March 2020.
2. All flights inbound and outbound are suspended between the Dominican Republic and Europe, China, South Korea and Iran for the period of 30 days as of 16 March 2020.
3. A quarantine requirement is being imposed for visitors who have been in any of the above listed countries during the previous two weeks.
4. Health screenings have been placed at airports and all arriving passengers must complete a travel history form.
5. Cargo operations are being carried out normally at all ports for now. Correspondents strongly recommend that all crew must stay on board.

14 April: Masters and / or managers of the ships must send 48 hours before arrival the health declaration of all the crew, among other required research information, which must be validated by the Ministry of Public Health. Once the health authority validates that all safety requirements are met and after having carried out the respective health inspection of the crew, the ship will be authorized to enter the port.

As part of the preventive measures taken within port operations, it was indicated that all persons boarding ships should wear nitrile gloves and masks.

Port operations continue on a regular basis, but the personnel required to physically work at the port will be limited to critical personnel.

23 April: The Dominican judicial system has been affected by the above restrictions. Suspension of the jurisdictional work of the entities that depend on the Judicial Power, such as the hearings on Civil, Commercial, Labour and Administrative Matters, set from Thursday, March 19, 2020 until three working days after the end of the State of Emergency, which, in principle, should intervene on May 1st, 2020. Only criminal proceedings already under way in both the ordinary criminal jurisdiction and the jurisdiction for children and adolescents remain in operation. The Constitutional Court decided to suspend the calculation of time periods and the holding of hearings during the period of the State of Emergency, resuming them three working days after the end of the State of Emergency, coinciding with the Judiciary.

20 October : The state of emergency remains in force. A curfew remains in force, times vary depending on region.

Prior to arrival the Master must submit a copy of the crew list, the last ten ports, the P&I certificate and the declaration of maritime health must be sent to PFSO. A vessel that comes from high risk countries and other places infected with COVID 19, must arrive at the DR Ports after 14 days of departure from said port or must wait the required 14 days on high seas and once the time has passed, if there are no sick crew on board, the Medical Commission evaluates when it can dock.

11 January:  New measures were implemented to stop COVID-19, according to Presidential Decree No. 740-20 of December 30, 2020, please see the following:

• It is established that from January 1 to January 10 the curfew will be from 17:00 hrs. until 05:00 hrs., Monday through Friday, with two hours of free transit to reach their homes at 19:00 hrs.
• It is established that on Saturday 9, as well as Sunday 10, January 2021, the curfew will be from 12:00 hrs to 05:00 hrs.
• During curfew hours, international passengers and operators of private or commercial vehicles that are transferring them, as well as employees of the maritime and air transport sector duly identified, will be allowed to circulate in transit to or from ports and airports, among other people.

Medical Assistance

Medical assistance remains available for non-COVID19 injuries or illness and will be approved by the health authorities on a case by case basis.

Crew Changes Allowed?

Crew changes are permitted however, authorisation from the High Level Presidential Commission is required.

Crew disembarking must have confirmed flight details /Embarking crew must arrive with negative Covid tests results.

Prohibition on crew changes remains in place for cruise vessels. In exceptional cases, namely humanitarian, health reasons or immediate repatriation, disembarkations may be performed if authorized by Health Authority and with direct disembark from vessel to international airport area.

Informing Party

C.Fernie & Co S.A

GAC Panama

Panama Agencies Co. Inc.

Cariconsult

Date

24 December

Summary of Advice

3 April: Panama Canal COVID-19 vessel precautions: https://www.pancanal.com/common/maritime/advisories/2020/ADV-13-2020.pdf

5 June: ACP impose mandatory requirements for the wearing of masks during transit of the Panama Canal: https://www.pancanal.com/common/maritime/advisories/2020/ADV-19-2020.pdf

10 September: It is still generally not allowed for ship personnel to land ashore with the exception of urgent medical attention in which case permission has to be requested to the Ministry of health.

Launch services are in operation and surveyors and other ship service companies are able to operate. Port Terminals and the Panama Canal continue to operate normally.

As covid-19 cases appear reduced the last few weeks, there has been a gradual opening of local commerce and movement restrictions. Provided that the situation does not deteriorate it is expected that next week will see the elimination of local movement restrictions except for night time curfew and total lockdown on Sundays except for persons whose nature of work (such as shipping) require their attendance in which case special passes are provided.

24 December:  Due to the high numbers of daily new cases, the Ministry of Heath have announced a full lock down beginning at 1900 hrs December 24 until 0500 hrs December 28 and again from 1900 hrs December 31 until 0500 hrs January  04. Only essential movements will be permitted during these periods.

-Outside the above full lock down periods, a nationwide curfew from 1900 hrs until

0500 hrs is in force.

– All Government offices (Immigration/Customs) and banks will be closed from Dec

24th-27th and again from Dec 31st-Jan 03rd.

– The local Health Authorities announced the temporary suspension to enter the

country by any person who has travelled from or through the United Kingdom

and/or South Africa due to the new strains of the virus reported in these countries.

– The Panama Canal and Port Terminals continue operating normally

PANAMA CANAL SITUATION

– The waiting time for Northbound vsls is currently running at approx 3-4 days and

for Southbound vsls the waiting time has increased to 5 days.

– Projected arrivals are heavy for Dec 26th-28th which could result in delays increasing to 5-6 days.

The PCA continue their best efforts to reduce the current backlog of Panamax-Plus

vessels and have managed to maintain THREE (3) vessels scheduled for today (Dec

23rd) and TWO tomorrow (24th).

– The waiting time for these vessels has improved slightly to approx 15 days.

– Preference will always be given to NeoPanamax vsls when programming transit

schedules via NEW locks.

– Panamax-Plus vessels can NOT be prebooked and must wait their turn to transit.

The maximum authorized drafts currently as follows:

– PANAMAX (Old) Locks:             12.04m (39ft 06in) TFW – In Effect Until Further Notice

– NEOPANAMX (New) Locks:     15.24m (50ft 00in) TFW – In Effect Until Further Notice

– The level of Gatun lake is currently at 88.27ft

Medical Assistance

Medical treatment to non-COVID19 crew is possible in Panama, however after strict protocol followed, including the boarding of authorities to review the crew member before authorizing his disembarkation.

Crew Changes Allowed?

Crew changes are permitted with restrictions.

Travellers entering Panama are required to travel with a negative COVID-19 test certificate which is valid within 48 hours of travel.

International flights resumed on 12 October.

Informing Party

GlobalPandi

Caribbean Marine

Pandi Venezuela

Date

31 December

Summary of Advice

The National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA) issued Circular No. 04 (Special Notice-02 COVID-19), dated 13 March 2020 – a number of preventive measures, among them:

• Once the arrival notice is made, the Captain of the ship will be asked for the list of the last three (03) destination ports.
• A sanitary inspection upon arrival of a ship to port. This visit will be applied to all national and foreign flag ships, either in transit or engaged in cabotage.
• In the event that any member of the crew showing symptoms of the COVID-19, the ship will be directed to a quarantine area. Sanitary authorities will carry out the respective medical evaluation of the entire crew.
• The ship’s crew must use the personal protective equipment provided to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), such as: rubber gloves and masks; as well as guaranteeing compliance with the corresponding hygiene measures in the ship’s common areas.
• Suspension of boarding and disembarking of ship crews in all ports of the national territory.
• Instructions will be given to the Captain of the ship, so that during stay in Venezuelan waters the crews use protective masks.
• The Captain of the ship should be suggested to follow all the preventive measures that have been made public to avoid contagion, such as the use of protective masks, antiseptic gel and frequent effective washing of hands.

The Circular No. 04 does not imply militarization nor delay in port activities. Additionally, the INEA has suspended until further notice the “physical visit” to the ship by its personnel in order to verify the validity of the ship´s documentation, what it will be now done via e-mail in coordination with ship agents.

20 April: Globalpandi advise ports are open and working but facing logistic problems mainly related to the lack of gasoline and ‘salvoconductos’ needed to move around. The Decree on State of Alarm states in article 9 (8) that port activities are exempted from the suspension of activities. Therefore, public ports under control of Bolipuertos, S.A. (Puerto Cabello, La Guaira Maracaibo and Guanta, among others) are normally working as far as loading, unloading and reception of cargoes within port areas, difficulties may be found when taking cargoes out of ports due to logistic constraints.

7 September: Globalpandi advise that registration of seafarers as key workers to allow crew changes should be through the INEA’s website at http://www.inea.gob.ve.

14 September: Venepandi advise that there is a fuel shortage gasoline in the whole country, and that airports are closed. Port operations throughout the country are carried out normally. There are no restrictions except to wear a mask. Vessels arriving from a voyage of less than 14 days, will berth at the arrival, and discharge/load without any restriction. No tests are done for Covid-19 on board, unless the Master reports cases of Coronavirus. For surveyor attendance, they must notify the Port Captaincy office, which issues a shipping permit without any extra requirement.

The commercial courts are closed due to the pandemic; however, these courts can be used according to article 4 of the law that concerns. The case must be treated as an urgent matter because it is enabled under exceptional conditions within the pandemic. It is not easy to quantify the time in terms of time bars, suspensions and extensions, but we can affirm that under the habilitation modality the case is handled as if the competent commercial court were operating normally, therefore, it can be concluded that the resolution periods, in theory, should be the same as if there were no pandemic.

Medical Assistance

The disembarking of crew is permitted for medical treatment in case of non COVID-19 injuries and illnesses. However, there is no free hospital care. The crew member must be admitted to a private clinic paying for medical services. In the case of the ports located in Punto Fijo (Punta Cardon, Amuay, and Guaranao) Venepandi recommended to bring the seafarer to the capital, Caracas. This subject to the availability of fuel for transport.

Crew Changes Allowed?

27 April: the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA) issued Circular No. 014 identify seafarers as key workers and therefore is now possible to make crew changes of national and foreigner crew at Venezuelan ports, subject to flight availability.

25 August: The Venezuelan Maritime Authority, The National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA), issued Circular No 019, dated August 25, 2020, containing further regulations on mobilization of crew members in Venezuela to facilitate change of seafarers and their repatriation in the context of COVID-19.

7 September: Globalpandi advise that registration of seafarers as key workers to allow crew changes should be through the INEA’s website at http://www.inea.gob.ve.

Once in the INEA’s website, accessing to the specific section and duly registered, the request can be generated, indicating the Captaincy (local Harbour Master office) to which it is addressed, name of the vessel from which the crew change will be made, country, port, an estimated date of the disembarkation and the name of the Company or Agency responsible for disembarking.

31 December: On December 13, 2020, the National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) announced that, in accordance with the provisions of NOTAM C1075 / 20 and NOTAM A0500 / 20, as of that date, only commercial air operations from and to Venezuela with Turkey, Mexico and Bolivia are permitted.