Ivory Coast

Urgent Update on Ebola Outbreak

The development
The Association has been advised by its correspondents that the Port of Abidjan in Ivory Coast has made a decision not to allow entry to any vessel that arrives from a country which is experiencing an outbreak of Ebola.

Published here is the French language notice issued by the port.

The effect of the notice is that as of 12 August 2014 no vessel arriving from a country experiencing an Ebola outbreak will be allowed to call at the Port of Abidjan until further notice.

Furthermore, it is asked that any vessel which has an ill person on board, particularly if the symptoms are similar to those of Ebola, should report the same immediately to the Port Authorities, whether or not the vessel has come from a port in a country suffering an outbreak.

Vessels that give concern to the Port Authorities may be subjected to up to 21 days of quarantine, which period is a usual incubation time for the virus.

Loss prevention advice - Practical
Members who have any person on board their vessel who falls sick after or during a port call in a country suffering from an Ebola outbreak should immediately seek to have medical advice given to the vessel. Ship manager's company doctors should be contacted to provide immediate assistance. Members should also inform the Association and in case of urgency or concern the master of a vessel should not hesitate to immediately contact the nearest Skuld correspondent.

Members whose vessels have recently called at a port in a country where there is an Ebola outbreak should contact local agents at the next port of call without delay to find out what may be the latest requirements for health declaration, inspection and quarantine.

If the next, or even further subsequent, port of call is in the Ivory Coast then members are asked to contact the Association immediately so that further advice and assistance can be provided.

Loss prevention advice - Chartering
For members who are fixing vessels to West Africa, they need to urgently advise their chartering teams to be aware of this issue and to avoid a fixture which would see a vessel call first at a port in a country with an Ebola outbreak and subsequently call at Abidjan.

For further information members are asked to contact the Association: lossprevention@skuld.com