Guidelines for Repatriation via Cruise Ships and Other Maritime Vessels

April 16, 2020

BOQ MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 018-20

 

A. General Guidelines

1. All arriving cruise ships are subjected to Republic Act No. 9271, "The Quarantine Act of 2004."

2. All vessels must report cases of flu-like symptoms or COVID-19 cases prior to travel to the Philippines.

3. All vessels must submit their Notice of Arrival (NOA) one week before the estimated time of arrival. The NOA must indicate the purpose of call and vessel activity.

4. Ship handling agency must accomplish all facilitation requirements before the arrival of the vessel.

5. Segregation of Repatriate Crew and Servicing Crew. All repatriate crew must stay in individual cabin and must be exempted from non-emergency duties. Only service crew must provide the basic needs of the repatriate crew, work their regular task, and function in ship keeping.

6. Segregation of repatriate crew done upon departure from last port.

a. One repatriate crew per individual cabin.

b. Male and female must be segregated per floor.

c. Repatriate Crew in the high-risk group (e.g., >60 years old, with co-morbidities, and pregnant) be billeted near the ship's hospital/medical clinic.

d. Repatriates with special needs (e.g., Injured, PWD) must be near the ship's hospital/medical clinic.

7. All vessel must declare their health profile required by the Bureau of Quarantine-Department of Health.

a. Ship master must submit data such as date of departure from port of origin, ships particulars, quarantine protocols observed during the voyage, and COVID testing done, if any.

b. Ship physician must submit medical log of passengers and crew, hospital facility capacity, medical treatment protocol for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

8. Department of Health Memoranda No. 2020-0143 and No. 2020-0154 for repatriation of OFS are followed.

9. All Quarantine Inspection and Clearances will be conducted at quarantine anchorage; water transport must be provided by respective ship handling agency.

10. All other issuances regarding COVID-19 must be complied.

B. Arrival of Vessel

1. Infection Prevention and Control Protocols must be observed at all times en route to the Philippine Port.

a. Documentation of Infection Prevention and Control protocols observed from their port of origin to Philippine port must be signed by Master of Vessel and Ship Physician and submitted to BOQ.

b. Day Zero of the 14-day quarantine period will commence upon arrival at any Philippine Port Repatriate Crew must stay in individual rooms from the departure at last port. Daily temperature checks and reporting of signs and symptoms must be logged.

c. Servicing crew will not be included to be repatriated. If the servicing crew will be signing off in the Philippines, they will start the 14-day quarantine period upon cessation of service and stay in individual cabins/hotel rooms in quarantine facility.

2. Routine Quarantine Inspection and Clearance

a. Observing vessel quarantine arrival protocol. Drop anchor at quarantine anchorage, hoisting of yellow flag and providing lee to Quarantine Medical Officers upon boarding.

b. Screening of all repatriated crew and all servicing crew:

i. Submission of fully-accomplished HDC

ii. Undergo thermal screening

iii. Medical Log and other pertinent documents (e.g., temperature monitoring, etc.)

c. Profiling of repatriated crew

i. Submission of Health Profile

d. Submitting of Maritime Declaration of Health, crew list, voyage memo and other pertinent documents.

e. Reporting of flu-like symptoms and Covid Case onboard.

3. Issuance of Free Pratique

a. Free Pratique is issued if all conditions are met:

i. Non-existence of contagious disease onboard

ii. Ship Sanitation Certificate is valid

iii. Maritime Declaration of Health and other pertinent documents submitted

4. Disembarkation of Repatriated Crew

a. Only signing off Filipino crew are allowed to disembark and must complete the 14-day quarantine period at a land-based or sea-based quarantine facility.

5. Disembarkation of Foreign Crew

a. Only foreign crew without signs and symptoms with confirmed outbound flights are allowed to disembark; provided, the outbound flight is within 4 hours.

b. No overnight stay in local hotels.

c. Upon disembarkation, the foreign crew must wear mask in transit from vessel to port of destination.

C. Departure of Vessel

1. All outgoing vessels must secure issuance of Quarantine Outgoing Clearance.

All Clearances from other Port Authorities must be secured.

(SGD.) FERDINAND S. SALCEDO, MD, MPH, CESO IVDirector IV