Coronavirus (termed 2019-nCoV) is a family of viruses that can cause illness in people. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China and has since spread to many other Countries such as France, Australia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the US, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and India. The virus causes other diseases ranging from the Common Cold to Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) All Indian ports have been cautioned about the ships arriving from Chinese ports or those which have visited China or SE Asia over the last 15 days to be alert and take necessary precautions wherever necessary.
a) Standard operating procedures have been set up for vessels arriving in all Major Indian Ports. These procedures will need to be adhered to by all parties including the Pilots, Vessel and its Crew, Shipping Agents, Stevedores and other vendors.
b) Shipping Agents will need to submit the following documentation to the Port Authorities for any vessels arriving in India:
i. IHR-2005 2019-nCoV form
ii. Maritime Declaration of Health with Attached Schedule showing the diseases details of the persons on board if any.
iii. Port of call list with departure dates
iv. The Crew List must be given with port and date of joining.
v. Medical Log copy for the last 1 month.
vi. Any shore medical visit or Radio Medical Advice or any Medical
evacuation or sign off done in last 1 month.
vii. Ship Sanitation Exemption Certificate/ Medicine Chest Certificate.
c) After providing the following information, the Port Authorities will decide
whether the vessel needs to go undergo additional screening and this will be
conducted before the vessel is granted berthing clearance. Any crewmembers
suspected of being nCoV positive will be transferred to the designated referral
hospitals and put into an isolation facility for further monitoring.
d) Shore leave for crew on-board vessels that have been in Countries affected
by the Coronavirus in last 15 days has been suspended.
Please see the attached circular from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Port
Health Organisation, India for further information. Click Here
MARITIME DECLARATION OF HEALTH