China State Council - Notice on the better pandemic prevention and control works for Chinese seafarers on international ships
Circular Ref: A(21)253
Issue Date: 29 Dec 2021
Members are invited to note that the Joint COVID-19 Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council (the key government joint mechanism for COVID-19 control and prevention in China) has announced on 10th December 2021, the 'Notices on the better pandemic prevention and control works for Chinese seafarers on international ships’ [No. 136 (2021)], to facilitate the pandemic control and prevention work for Chinese seafarers on international ships, and to “ensure the smooth flow of international maritime logistics supply and to earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of seafarers’.
Basically,
The Notice requires government departments of foreign affairs, transportation, health, the Customs and immigration:
1. to formulate the entry and exit policies for Chinese seafarers on international ships.
2. to establish a special entry, quarantine and medical rescue channel at Chinese cities/ports to facilitate the return of Chinese seafarers from overseas.
3. to secure effective vaccination for Chinese seafarers on international ships.
With effective from 15th February 2022, ships calling Chinese ports with crew change purposes should:
- Arrange COVID-19 tests for all seafarers at the departing port and report the results to the Port Authorities together with other port clearance documents at the first Chinese port of call.
- Any positive cases of seafarers found should be reported to local joint mechanism for COVID-19 prevention and control at the first Chinese port of call.
COVID-19 tests should be taken for all signing off seafarers at the first Chinese port of call, except for non-signing off seafarers if they wish to stay on board and meet other requirements. This will also apply to seafarers on board ships for require purpose in China and regular tests will be arranged for all onboard seafarers during the repair period. The local joint mechanism will designate medical institutions for COVID-19 positive seafarers for medical treatment. Those affected seafarers who are not able to leave ships or have to return to ships may do so if clearances are granted by the Master of the ship from the local joint mechanism.
All local joint mechanisms should develop detailed protocol for crew change and should not reject or delay any crew change arrangements in any excuses, including the followings:
1. mixed nationalities of seafarers on board.
2. not enough time since the ship left the last overseas port.
3, ships are from high risks areas.
4. not calling the first Chinese port.
All local joint mechanism should comprehensively analyse the demand for crew change in its administrative area and to ensure good allocation of medical resources including, hospitals, quarantine places, hospital beds, testing and vaccination for seafarers on the basis of "arranging crew changes as many as possible".
All local joint mechanism should report to the Ministry of Transport all pandemic control and prevention information in their administrative areas by 1st February 2021 for public announcement, in terms of crew change application protocol, allocation of quarantine resources, testing and contact details of the local medical teams for crew change.
All local joint mechanism should develop protocol and tariff for the rescue of injured or sick crews and these services should be arranged in a timely and effective matter without any delays.
All returning Chinese seafarers on board international ships are subject to 14-day hotel quarantine plus 7-day home surveillance.
Other related pandemic policies for crew change are:
“Crew Change Practice for Chinese seafarers serving on international ships during COVID-19” (Chinese version attached)
“Guidelines for the emergency handling of injured and sick seafarers during COVID-19” (Chinese version attached)
Please refer to the attached Chinese version of the Notice for more details. I have also attached the above two policies for your easy reference.
Please feel free to contact the undersigned for any queries on the documents.
i would like to the opportunity to wishing you and your family – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year！