As an international maritime centre, Hong Kong is always mindful of the need to support the global and local shipping community. Specifically, we recognise the significance of cargo operation, and had exempted crew members of goods vessels entering Hong Kong for loading and unloading of goods from the compulsory quarantine since the imposition of such a requirement in February this year.
The arrangement was subsequently expanded on 8 June to cover all goods vessels, including those entering Hong Kong purely for crew change, provided that they comply with the following conditions : (a) out-going crew members who have completed their service on board would be required to stay onboard the vessel during their stay in Hong Kong and travel directly to the airport for repatriation to their home countries so as to minimise the contact with local community; (b) in-coming crew members should only arrive Hong Kong when their vessels are berthed in Hong Kong and should get onboard immediately upon arrival.
If there is a genuine need for them to stay in Hong Kong whilst awaiting to board, the shipping companies/agents should arrange them in a self-isolated accommodation until getting onboard; and (c) point-to-point transfers should be arranged by the shipping companies/agents for crew members to and from the vessel. So far, about 8,000 crew members have been rotated in Hong Kong since the compulsory quarantine arrangement was first imposed in early February.
Starting from 27 June onwards, we have offered further facilitation by extending the arrangements to exempt crew members of cruise ships from the compulsory quarantine requirement.
To better balance potential public health risks, in addition to the conditions applicable to goods vessels without cargo operation as listed above, cruise ships which intend to enter Hong Kong for crew change are required to also comply with the following conditions : (d) the ship companies/agents should ensure that crew members to be repatriated possess valid travel and health documents (if applicable) required by their destination countries; (e) the daily quota for crew change for cruise ship is capped at 300.
Cruise ships would need to wait at international waters until the previous cruise ship has completed repatriation of the crew members concerned; (f) there has been no boarding of passengers or crew members to the cruise ship concerned in the 14 days prior to its arrival and there should be no passengers onboard upon arrival; (g) all persons onboard the cruise ship concerned should be asymptomatic upon arrival; (h) cruise ships need to carry out crew change at designated anchorages assigned by the Hong Kong Marine Department; and (i) cruise ships are required to stay in Hong Kong waters until all the crew members to be repatriated have left Hong Kong.
This new initiative is a practical approach with a view to providing further facilitation to the shipping sector, serving as a relief for the seafarers who have stayed onboard for an excessively long time, and balancing the public health risks for Hong Kong.
Source:hongkongmaritimehub
The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Xinde Marine News.
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