Technical Circular No: 52/2020
Download PDF- Reference is made to our Technical Circular No. 025/2020, dated 27 March 2020 regarding DGS, GOI instructions to vessels, all major and minor ports in India for dealing with Novel-Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to ensure continued operations of vessels and ports.
- Annex 2 of the DGS Order No. 04 of 2020 dated 20.03.2020 had provided instructions for ports & shipping for prevention & managing outbreak of COVID-19 and was provisionally valid till 03.2020. Also, Annexure 1 of the addendum No. 1 to DGS Order No. 04 of 2020 dated 21.03.2020 had provided the list of affected countries by way of ‘travel advisory’ in the website of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt. of India whereby restrictions in 3rd column had specified applicable date till 31.03.2020.
- DGS, GOI vide an Addendum No. 3 to DGS Order No. 04 of 2020 (copy attached) has now clarified that the restrictions of provisional validity of annexes of the DGS Order as listed in aforesaid para 2 (31.03.2020) is lifted and the same shall continue to be valid till further orders.
- Directorate has further advised to strictly comply with following requirements;
a. The number of persons required to board the vessel is to be kept to the bare minimum. Personnel who may be required to board the vessel such as ship agent, cargo personnel, custom and immigration authorities etc must always be aware of the pandemic and have appropriate PPE while on board the vessel.
b. The shore personnel not to enter the accommodation area of the vessel unless absolutely necessary.
c. The master of the vessel is to exercise due diligence to ensure that personnel entering accommodation area of the vessel is kept to the bare minimum and also ensure that the shore personnel are not permitted to remain inside the accommodation area after their work is completed. If the work entails substantial waiting period, the shore personnel shall need to remain outside the accommodation area during the waiting period.
- Addendum No. 3 to DGS Order No. 04 of 2020 has further clarified that Indian nationals representing Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and experts required to the board the vessel for troubleshooting and repairs etc. may be permitted to board the vessel in Indian ports with appropriate PPE.
- Ship owners/ operators and Masters are advised to be guided by above and ensure compliance.
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.