COVID-19 | Information / Circulars published

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The below circulars have been issued by the Flag Administrations that INSB Class is authorized and includes information and instructions related to COVID-19. Information will be also updated by the Flag Administrations as necessary, and in this respect please make sure to refer to their websites as well.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Website: http://svg-marad.com/download.asp?path=Circulars&newpath=General

 

Information/ Circulars

05 Oct. 2021: GEN 027 Seafarer Vaccination COVID-19

18 Apr. 2021: CIRCULAR N° GEN 025 COVID-19 Rev.9 Advice from Maritime Administration

Republic of Panama

Website: https://panamashipregistry.com/marine-category/marine-notices/

 

Information/ Circulars

Aug. 2020- MMN-16/2020- Repatriation modalities due to COVID-19 -  

Aug. 2020 -MMN-07/2020 - COVID-19 Request for Postponement – Extension of Statutory Certification & Services -

Aug. 2020  MMN-03/2020 – Coronavirus and Seafarers Employment Agreement and Certificates -

 

MMN-02/2020 - Coronavirus Prevention Measures -  Mar 2020

MMN-04/2020 - South Korea Establishes an Emission Control Area for Ships- click here-

MMN-05/2020 - Press Release COVID-19- click here-

MMN-06/2020- Press Release – Security Level 2- click here-

 

Belize

Website: http://www.immarbe.com/circularslist/

 

Information/ Circulars

29.04.2020 - MMN-20-003r3 – Belize - COVID-19, Temporaty measures

17.03.2020 - MMN-20-002 Technical Department Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Temporary Measures

 

Marshall Islands

Website:  www.register-iri.com/covid-19.

 

Information/ Circulars

The Marshall Islands Registry is always committed to quality client service. During these rapidly changing and challenging times, we remain fully operational and accessible to our clients. In addition to the normal activities of protecting life, the environment, and resources, the COVID-19 virus means the RMI Registry must now, more than ever, focus on ensuring that its registered ships continue trading to keep the global supply chain moving.

The RMI Registry encourages all government agencies and industry stakeholders to recognize this is a force majeure situation that will necessitate flexibility. Updated guidance on vessel calls in affected ports, vessel inspections, crew contracts, and more can be found at: www.register-iri.com/covid-19.

18 May 2020: MSA 21-20 - Corononirus disease update

Republic of Togo

Website: http://www.togoregistrar.com/circulars

 

Information/ Circulars

Ref:0036C/TG/03/20: COVID-19 – Implementation and enforcement of relevant IMO instruments / IMO Circular Letter No.4204/Add.1, 19 February 2020 - click here-

Ref:0037C/TG/03/20: IMO Circular Letter No. 42044204/Add.4, 5 March 2020: ICS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for ship operators for the protection of the health of seafarers - click here-

Ref:0039C/TG/03/20: Extention of the validity of ships certificates and seafarers, due to COVID-19 problem  - click here-

Ref 0040C/TG/03/20: I.M.O. Circular Letter No.4221, 18 March 2020: Communication from the Government of the People's Republic of China, Guidance on the prevention and control of COVID-19 on board (Version 1.0)” - click here-.

 

General info:

Working Hours / due to the COVID-19

In light of the recent Corona virus outbreak, please be advised that our offices will be closed on Monday 16th of March & Tuesday 17th of March 2020.

As today all our staff will be working from their houses online as if they were existing at office, therefor you are kindly requested to send your requests/ inquiries normally as usual to the relative email addresses, for emergency calls please contact the following persons:

For sending documents via whatsApp: Office Cell Phone: + 961 76 078 785

Registration Departement: Mrs Christine Nalbandian: + 961 70 799 559

Accounting Department: Mrs Cynthia Najarian: +961 81 262 917

STCW Department: Mrs Sarine Avedissian: +961 3 612 839

Technical Department: Engineer Chalita Trad: + 961 3 570 749

We shall continue to monitor the Corona outbreak events, and keep your good selves updated with any change to the above set up plan.

Palau

Website:  https://www.palaureg.com/information-centre/online-library/marine-documents/?swoof=1

 

Information/ Circulars

April 2020 (Rev. 03/2020 - MC 187.1. Handling the validity of ships certificates due to COVID-19

10 MArch 2020 - MEMO 132.1 – PISR Operational Instructions For Managing COVID-19 Cases-Outbreak in Greece

Barbados

Website: https://barbadosmaritime.org/bulletins/

 

Information/ Circulars

Gabon

Website: http://www.intershippingservices.com/circulars.php

 

Information/ Circulars

29.09.2020 MARCIR 16/2020 International Chamber of Shipping- COVID-19 - Updated guidance for ship operators for the protection of the health of seafarer (v3)

MARCIR 07/2020 COVID-19-Guidance for ship operators for the protection of the health of seafarers -click here--

St. Kitts & Nevis

Website: https://www.skanregistry.com/maritime-circulars

 

Information/ Circulars

MSC92/20: MEASURES TAKEN AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 - 24 March 2020

Moldova

Website: http://maradmoldova.md/index.php?pag=news&id=213&rid=346&l=en

Information/ Circulars

01.04.2020 Extension of statutory inspections and issuance/endorsement of statutory certificates, extension of certificates of endorsements issued under I/10 of the STCW Convention, due to COVID-19 pandemic period

Cook Islands

Website: https://www.maritimecookislands.com/circulars/covid-19/

 

Information/ Circulars

07 Aug 2020 - MCI Circular 236/2020 Coronavirus (COVID 19) Extension to validity of Cook Islands Certificates of Competency (CoC) and Cook Islands Certificates of Proficiency (CoP)

02 Apr 2020 - MCI Circular 229/2020 Coronavirus (COVID 19) Guidance relating to the certification of Cook Islands Seafarers and Seafarers serving aboard Cook Islands flagged vessels.

25 Mar 2020 - MCI Circular 228/2020 COVID-19 – Format of documentation on board Cook Islands’ Vessels -click here--

19 Mar 2020 - MCI Circular 227/2020 COVID-19 – Extension of mandatory surveys, audits, inspections and validity of statutory certificates. -click here--

09 Mar 2020 - MCI Circular 226/2020 Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases/outbreak on board ships -click here--

13 Feb. 2020 - MCI Circular 224/2020 Extension of Seafarers’ Employment Agreement (SEA) Service Period Due to Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus(2019-nCoV) and MLC temporaryexemption

 

 

 

 

Vanuatu

Information/ Circulars

• 16 April 2020 - COVID-19 Vanuatu Policies

 

• 2 April 2020: COVID-19: ISM internal audits and ISM/ISPS/MLC renewal audits **Revisison #2**

1. In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Vanuatu flag Administration has established following interim policy to accommodate any possible disruptions with regard to ISM/ISPS/MLC audits.

a. Internal Audits: The Administration accepts the following alternative audit approach; 

i.  Masters may audit the Engine Department, and Chief Engineer may audit the Bridge Department, if possible under remote supervision from qualified internal auditor/DPA from company.
ii. A fully remote audit performed by a qualified internal auditor/DPA of the company is also acceptable.
iii. In the alternatives described under ‘i & ii’ above, all requirements of the ISM Code must be met.
iv. The due date of any internal audit due by 30 April 2020 is extended by this policy for 90 days from its due date. The extension is to be communicated to the Administration with the alternative to be utilized.
 

b. ISM/ISPS/MLC Audits/ Inspections: 

i. Recognized Organizations are authorized to postpone any ISM/ISPS/MLC audits/ inspections due by 31 May 2020 for a period of not more than 90 days from the due date without prior authorization provided that the Administration is informed about the extension. For renewal/initial audits, the due date is the expiration date of the relevant certificate. In the case of annual/intermediate audits, the due date is the last day of the permissible window.
 

ii. Following details are to be included when informing to the Administration in above cases;

• Due date of the audit.
• Copy of the relevant certificate.

iii. Above authorization is only valid for COVID-19 reasons.  All other cases must be submitted to the Administration for approval. 

3. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Vanuatu flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.

4. The above interim policy will be reviewed and revised as required by the Administration as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.

Union of Comoros

Website: https://www.comorosmaritime.org/en/technical/circulars

 

Information/ Circulars

9 Sep. 2020   20/01989/COM CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – WHO GUIDANCE TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES ON CARGO SHIPS AND FISHING VESSELS.

9 Sep. 2020   20/01855/COM³ CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – GUIDANCE RELATING TO THE POSTPONEMENT/ EXTENTION OF STATUTORY CERTIFICATION &SERVICES 

25 Mar. 2020 20/1850/COM CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – GUIDANCE RELATING TO THE CERTIFICATION OF SEAFARERS

Greece

Website: http://hcg.gr/

 

Information/ Circulars

Hellenic Maritime Administration Covid 19 v.27.03.pdf

MLC CIRC_SEAs EXTE_COVID 2019_dner_v2 (1)_signed.pdf

   WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION  

World Health Organization

WHO keeps updating the development on a webpage with Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) , and a webpage Situation Dashboard

Please also visit the WHO page related to :Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases/outbreak on board ships

    IMO   
International Maritime Organization

IMO has issued the following circular letters: 

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.38 (25 March 2021) - Coronavirus (COVID 19)-Joint Statement calling all Governments to prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for seafarers and aircrew

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.28 (26 August 2020) - Coronavirus (COVID 19)-Promoting public health measures in response to COVID-19 on cargo ships and fishing vessels" prepared by WHO

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.16 (6 May 2020) - Coronavirus (COVID 19) – COVID-19 related guidelines for ensuring a safe shipboard interface between ship and shore-based personnel

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.15 (6 May2020) - Coronavirus (COVID 19) – Personal protective equipment

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.9 (16 April 2020) - Joint Statement IMO-WCO on the integrity of the global supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.8 (14 April 2020) - Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Video meeting with Port State Controls (PSC) regimes

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.7 (3 April 2020) - Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Guidance concerning unforeseen delays in the delivery of ships

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.6 (27 March 2020) Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Preliminary list of recommendations for Governments and relevant national authorities on the facilitation of maritime trade during the COVID-19 pandemic 

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.5/Rev.1 (2 April 2020) Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Guidance relating to the certification of seafarers and fishing vessel personnel

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.4 (5 March 2020) contains ICS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for ship operators for the protection of the health of seafarers

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.3 (2 March 2020) - Operational considerations for managing COVID-19 cases/outbreak on board ships

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.2 (21 February 2020) contains the Joint Statement IMO-WHO on the Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak and encourages Member States and international organizations to disseminate it as widely as possible. Available in the six official languages of the United Nations system. 

• Arabic

  ​Chinese

  ​English

  ​French

  Russian​

  ​Spanish

   

• Circular Letter No.4204/Add.1  (19 February 2020) provides advice on Implementation and enforcement of relevant IMO instruments
   
• Circular Letter No.4203.Add.1 (12 February 2020) provides information and guidance on the precautions to be taken to minimize risks to delegates
   
• Circular Letter No.4204 (31 January 2020) providing information and guidance, based on recommendations developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), on the precautions to be taken to minimize risks to seafarers, passengers and others on board ships from the coronavirus.

   IACS   

Notification for COVID-19

    ILO   

07.04.2020 - ILO: Information Note on Maritime Labour issues and COVID-19

    EMSA      
European Maritime Safety Agency

    PORT STATE CONTROLS         

PARIS MOU 

https://parismou.org/

15.09.2020 Temporary guidance related to COVID-19 for Port State Control authorities (rev.4)

03.07.2020 Guidance for Port State Control authorities on resuming inspections related to COVID-19

08.05.2020  Paris MoU guidance on COVID-19 updated and available for the industry

TOKYΟ MOU

http://www.tokyo-mou.org/

10.04.2020 TOKYO MOU REVISING THE GUIDANCE FOR DEALING WITH IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC OF THE COVID-19

    INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF SHIPPING       

26 Aug 2020. “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Protocols to Mitigate the Risks of Cases On Board Ships”

ICS, IMHA and INTERTANKO have created two tools to help ship operators manage cases on board: a flowchart to help identify the process to follow when managing a larger number of suspect cases of COVID-19 on board; and a PCR testing procedures matrix to help identify what to do and when prior to boarding and if a suspect case is identified on the ship.

    OTHER USEFUL WEBPAGES         

With countries across the globe announcing new restrictions on ship visit and crew shore leave, it becomes a complex task to get a timely update of new restrictions. To help make this easier Wilhelmsen Ships Service has produced the online “Coronavirus – Global Port Restrictions Map”. By clicking on ports or countries on the map users can view restrictions in each location.

There is another useful webpage created by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins, with a summary of providing location and the number of cases. It shows a live real-time, interactive map of the spread of the virus.