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Updated guidance to crew members for entry into Canada

Transport Canada issued a Ship Safety Bulletin to inform of the relevant requirements related to existing and intended vessel crew members, and to essential service marine sector workers, seeking entry into Canada.

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Seafarers | 11/03/21 

Travel to canada as vessel crew, or to become vessel replacement crew:

Asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19 carrying seafarers travelling to Canada as vessel crew, or to become vessel replacement crew, entering by either air or by land, are exempt from:

• the otherwise applicable requirement to provide proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result;

• the otherwise applicable requirement to be subject to a post-arrival COVID-19 molecular test;

• the otherwise applicable requirement to quarantine upon entry into Canada, in accordance to with the published quarantine exemption list; and

• if arriving by air, the otherwise applicable requirement to stay in a government-approved facility.

Note: Although your reason for entering Canada may fall under an exemption, you may still have to follow certain provincial and/or territorial restrictions.

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Travel to canada as a non-crew marine sector worker providing an essential service in the trade or transportation sector important for the movement of goods or people:

This category, travelling to Canada, either by air or by land, depending on the nature of their work in Canada, may or may not be exempt from:

• The otherwise applicable requirement to provide proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result;

• the otherwise applicable requirement to be subject to a post-arrival COVID-19 molecular test;

• the otherwise applicable requirement to quarantine upon entry into Canada, in accordance to with the published quarantine exemption list.

Note: Although your reason for entering Canada may fall under an exemption, you may still have to follow certain provincial and territorial restrictions.

Note: While not solely of application to marine sector workers, pursuant to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Order-in-Council 2021-0075, the Chief Public Health Officer has determined that the following class of persons are exempt from quarantine:

Technicians or specialists specified by a government, manufacturer, or company, who enter Canada as required for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, installing or inspecting equipment necessary to support critical infrastructure (Energy and Utilities, Information and Communication Technologies, Finance, Health, Food, Water, Transportation, Safety, Government and Manufacturing) and are required to provide their services within 14 days of their entry to Canada and have reasonable rationales for the immediacy of the work and the inability to plan for a 14 day quarantine.

In order to be exempt from the requirement to quarantine for 14 days prior to commencing work in Canada, non-crew marine sector workers must provide to the Canada Border Services Agency officer a reasonable rationale why their services in the marine sector are required right away and why they are unable to plan for quarantine prior to commencing work. The final decision whether the exemption applies under the circumstances belongs to the Canada Border Services Agency officer and/or a Public Health Agency of Canada quarantine officer.

Non-crew marine sector workers arriving to provide essential services are exempt from:

• the otherwise applicable requirement to be subject to a post-arrival COVID-19 molecular test; and

• if arriving by air, the otherwise applicable requirement to stay in a government approved facility.

See also: Canada: PSC officers to continue to shed focus on maximum period of seafarers’ service onboard

Persons who will, as determined by the Minister of Transport in consultation with the Minister of Health, respond to, investigate, or prevent significant disruptions to the effective continued operation of the national transportation system, transportation undertakings or infrastructure:

Any person who will, as determined by the Minister of Transport in consultation with the Minister of Health, respond to, investigate, or prevent significant disruptions to the effective continued operation of the national transportation system, transportation undertakings or infrastructure, either by air or by land, are exempt from:

• having to provide proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result;

• the requirement to get tested for COVID-19 on arrival.

Marine Sector Workers Being Denied Entry into Canada or Being Denied Boarding of a Flight into Canada:

Situations may arise where an asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19 carrying marine sector worker is being denied entry into Canada, or is being determined as subject to certain entry restrictions limiting their capacity to perform their intended marine sector duties in a timely manner following entry into Canada, or is being denied boarding of a flight into Canada, where entry is seemingly warranted per Public Health Agency of Canada Order-in-Council exemptions highlighted by this Ship Safety Bulletin.

In some such circumstances, Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security may provide a letter of endorsement to provide additional supporting information for consideration by the border official to possibly facilitate entry or boarding, as the case may be.

Ultimately, Canada Border Service Agency officials maintain the authority to determine any exemptions from the prohibition of entry, immigration admissibility, any applicable exemptions from testing or quarantine, and any associated customs requirements, even if presented with an endorsement letter from Transport Canada as referenced above.

To seek such a Transport Canada endorsement letter, please contact Transport Canada, by email at marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca.

• include in the e-mail Subject line the phrase “Marine Sector Entry Issue”

• provide a summary of the situation

• indicate if the traveler is a member or prospective member of a crew, or is a non-crew marine sector worker

• provide all relevant contact information, including the relevant intended workplace destination, and, as

• applicable, the relevant vessel to be attended; and

If exercising the privileges of a Canadian certificate of competency, please include:

• the relevant Candidate Document Number (“CDN Number”)

• the traveller’s date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD)

• the crewing designation denoted on the traveler’s certificate of competency, and

• the date of issuance (YYYY-MM-DD) of the certificate of competency; or

If exercising the privileges of a foreign certificate of competency, please include:

• the crewing designation denoted on the traveler’s foreign certificate of competency

• the name of the foreign certificate-issuing state

• the date that the certificate of competency was issued

• the name and contact information for the shipping agent, or company, etc. who is e-mailing Transport Canada on behalf of the traveller.

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