West Africa

Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak - update (27 October 2014)

In view of the complexity and the rapidly evolving situation in West Africa, we have produced the below table with links to related documents on the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. Please read this information in conjunction with our previous advice as detailed below.

It is recommended that all Members first check the current situation with local port agents in advance of calling at any port in West Africa.

 Country            Requirements and/or restrictions

Argentina            Pilot Association Notice of Quarantine Period Requirements

Bangladesh        Measures for the Prevention of Ebola Virus Disease in Bangladeshi Ports

Benin                 Cotonou Port Authority 12 September 2014

Brazil                 Health Authority Requirements Prior Entry Into Port

                         ANVISA Reporting Requirements in Brazilian Ports

Cameroon          Ebola Update (Cameroon P&I) 21 October 2014

China                 Ebola Update (Huatai) 15 September 2014

Congo                Please see West Africa below

Cote d'Ivoire        Port of Abidjan Ban Lifted

Durban               The Handling of Stowaways During the Ebola Outbreak

France               Ebola - Special Requirement for calling at French Ports

Gabon                Ministry of Heath Requirements for Entry Into Port

Guinea               Ebola Update for Conakry 15 September 2014

Liberia                Declaration of a State of Emergency

                          Ebola Advisory (Liberia Maritime Authority) August 2014

Mauritania           Ebola Update (McLeans) Mauritania 12 September 2014

Nigeria                Potential Routine Health Testing of Crew Members

                          Nigerian Port Authority Notice - Lagos

Panama             Panama Canal Authority Requirements

Sierra Leone       Sierra Leone Port Health Authority Bulletin

Singapore           Singapore Port Authority Requirements

South Africa        Harbour Master Written Instructions August 2014

South America    Ebola Update (SAPIC) 3 September 2014

West Africa        Ebola Update (Budd) 22 August 2014

                         Ebola Update (Eltvedt & O'Sullivan) 27 August 2014

                         Ebola Update (Ivory P&I) 31 August 2014

                         Ebola Update (Eltvedt & O'Sullivan) 4 September 2014

                         Ebola Update (Eltvedt & O'Sullivan) 12 September 2014

                         Ebola Update (Budd) 22 October 2014

United States     USCG Notice - Ebola Precautions and Requirements

                         USCG - Ebola, Vessel Reporting Requirements at NOLA

                         USCG - Ebola, Vessel Reporting Requirements at Houston-Galveston

                         USCG Notice - Ebola Precautions and Requirements (Update).pdf

                         USCG Notice - Ebola Precautions and Requirements (Update - Change 1)

Ebola Port Restrictions - Global Map Courtesy of Grimaldi Lines.

Ebola Measured by Country Calls - Graph Courtesy of Lloyds List Intelligence.

Friday, 24 October 2014

On 20 October 2014, the WHO officially declared Nigeria Ebola-free having passed the mandatory period with no new cases. A total of 42 days after the last confirmed case of the virus was discharged from hospital, Nigeria is the second West African country to be declared Ebola-free after Senegal on 17 October 2014. Meanwhile, local authorities have confirmed the first reported case of Ebola in Guinea's neighbour Mali.

Local P&I correspondent (Pandi Liquidadores S.R.L.) has been in contact with the Argentinian Pilots Association and advises that, unless Pilot companies receive instructions from local Sanitary Authorities, they will not make any changes to their 30 day quarantine period irrespective of the above declarations. The Argentinian Sanitary Authorities are presently working on new protocols, so their position may be subject to change.

Members should therefore contact their local port agent and/or P&I correspondents for the most up to date information.

Pilot Association Notice of Quarantine Period Requirements

Tuesday, 30 September 2014

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore have issued Port Marine Circular No.12 of 2014 which advises of the compulsory maritime health declaration required by vessels that have been to Ebola Virus Disease affected countries in the previous 21 days.

The circular can be downloaded here.

Tuesday, 23 September 2014

We have received updates from Ivory P&I and the South American P&I Correspondents Association (SAPIC) summarising the special measures that are currently in place in West Africa and South America. Ivory P&I have produced a very useful map of the areas affected by the disease and this can be viewed here. The circular issued by SAPIC can be read here.

Friday, 12 September 2014

The fear of stowaways being infected with Ebola, is resulting in significant complications to the stowaway repatriation process. These may include:

• Port Health Authority reluctance to accept stowaways
• Additional health and sanitary screening resulting in delays
• Potential on board quarantine for stowaways suspected of having contracted Ebola
• Security guards unwillingness to escort stowaways being repatriated to countries affected by Ebola
• Limited number of scheduled flights throughout West Africa resulting in delays to the ship
• A lack of suitable quarantine facilities at West African airports.

Members should instruct their crews to be vigilant and maintain strict gangway watches throughout their vessel's stay in port. If any person boarding the vessel (stevedores, agents, ship chandlers, cleaners, immigration, ship repairers and contractors) does not have a proper port permit then the person should be refused access to the vessel.

After the completion of cargo operations, the crew should perform a thorough stowaway search. Enhanced security should be maintained until the vessel clears port limits.

In order to minimise the potential risk of a stowaway boarding the vessel, P&I correspondents suggest that the Members should consider employing the services of a private security company.

North's Loss Prevention Briefing on the topic of stowaways can be read here.

Thursday, 11 September 2014

Members of European P&I Correspondents (EPIC) have provided details of special measures, restrictions and sanitary requirements for gaining free pratique for their individual countries.

A general summary of European port authorities position is as follows:

European countries are presently not banning or restricting vessels that arrive from Ebola affected countries.

Most countries require ships to submit a declaration 24 hours before arrival that includes:

a) Details of the last 10 ports of call.

b) Crew List including the number of passengers.

c) Maritime Declaration of Health confirming that the EVD 21 day incubation period has passed (since the last port of call in West Africa) and that no symptoms have been recorded.

Individual countries will have their own documentation in respect the Maritime Declaration of Health, so Members are advised to check with their port agent well in advance of arrival.

Monday, 8 September 2014

P&I correspondents Budd S.A have reported that the president of Sierra Leone is imposing a period of curfew from 19 to 21 September 2014. It is not yet know what impact this will have on shipping, but delays can be expected.

The full article can be read here.

A copy of the Ebola Emergency Operations Bulletin can be read here.

Thursday, 28 August 2014

We have received reports that the port of Tomasina, Madagascar does not receive vessels from Ebola affected countries. This announcement follows similar announcements made by Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroun, Cape Verde (for a period of 3 months), Nigeria and Senegal.

Meanwhile the Democratic Republic of Congo have announced the first case of the disease, although it is said to be unrelated to the other outbreaks (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal) and its ports remain open at this time.

Liberia has imposed a curfew between 21:00 and 06:00 which might result in delays for vessels arriving/departing within these times and stringent medical checks have been implemented, prior to the authorities granting port entry. Any suspected cases will result in the vessel being quarantined at a safe anchorage for 21 days.

Additional recommendations for vessels calling at West African ports include:

• Cancelling shore leave
• Refraining from purchasing supplies or food.
• Ensuring that the working conditions of Filipino crew members conform to the POEA Guidelines.
• Ensuring that all persons coming on board disinfect their hands or wear gloves.
• Reinforcing measures to prevent stowaways from boarding.

The latest information (dated 22 August 2014) from P&I correspondents (Budd) can be read here.

The latest information (dated 27 August 2014) from P&I correspondents (Eltvedt & O'Sullivan) can be read here.

Monday, 18 August 2014

North has received a number of enquiries from Members regarding the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) presently affecting several countries in West Africa.

To assist Members North has developed a quick reference factsheet on EVD which can be printed onboard and posted at prominent locations on board the vessel.

This factsheet includes a précis of the advice from the World Health Organisation and other industry bodies, such as spotting the symptoms of Ebola.

Members should visit the website of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/ and check the latest situation with local agents before calling at an affected area. The EVD situation is developing rapidly. North issues regular updates on the situation on our website.

The factsheet can be downloaded from our website as follows:

Ebola Virus Disease Information Sheet (A4: 210 x 297mm)

Ebola Virus Disease Information Sheet (A3: 297 x 420mm)

Monday 18, August 2014

P&I correspondents (Pandi Liquidadores S.R.L.) have advised that in the absence of official advice from the local authorities, the Argentinean Pilot Association has imposed a restriction on vessels arriving from Ebola affected areas in West Africa.

The circular issued by the Centro de Navegacion, advises that Pilots in the River Plate Area will not board any vessel until 30 days have elapsed since departure from the last port of call in an affected area.

Members with vessels calling at Argentinean ports should contact their port agent for further advice in advance of their vessel's arrival.

Friday, 15 August 2014

P&I correspondents (Brazil P&I) have advised that ANVISA have issued general guidelines to vessels for the Ebola Virus Disease. Please click here for their general guidelines regarding the Ebola virus.

Thursday, 14 August 2014

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration have issued a circular providing guidance to all shipping companies and manning agents employing Filipino seafarers on board vessels trading to countries affected by the EVD outbreak.

The circular outlines additional precautions to protect seafarers from the risk of exposure to the disease, that include providing crew Members with medical masks, rubber gloves, goggles and education prior to entering the affected areas.

The circular entitled Precautionary Measures for Manning Agencies re Ebola Virus can be read here.

Wednesday, 13 August 2014

We have been advised by Budd Ivory Coast that they have received a circular from the Abidjan Port Authority regarding the Ebola virus. The circular states that as of 10 August 2014, all vessels arriving from a country affected by the Ebola virus are forbidden to enter the port of Abidjan.

The circular goes on to state that all vessels, no matter where they have come from, are under the obligation to inform the Abidjan Port Authority if any person on board has Ebola-type symptoms. The port authority will then decide whether the vessel can be allowed into the port.

Friday, 8 August 2014

On 6 and 7 August, the WHO Director-General convened the Emergency Committee (EC) to discuss the EVD outbreak in West Africa and have declared the outbreak as an ‘extraordinary event' and a public health risk to other States. The EC unanimously voted that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met and agreed implementation of a 3 part programme of recommendations for states to follow in an effort to halt and reverse the outbreak.

The WHO continue to advise that there should be no general ban on international travel or trade, yet the restrictions outlined in the EC's recommendations (regarding the travel of EVD cases and contacts) are now fully in force.

Until the WHO change their advice and require states to close both borders and air/sea ports, trading and sea-transport will continue to West African ports largely as normal. The focus at the moment is on the steps that can be taken to minimise exposure to the virus as outlined below.

Full details of the WHO Director-General's statement and the individual restrictions for each state to follow can be read here.