A new protocol has been implemented for crew changes at Port Louis from 28 April.
OFF SIGNING CREWS
- Crew members must meet the criteria for entry into Mauritius without self-isolation:
- Crew members shall be vaccinated, and exempt from self-isolation on arrival, people who have:
- Crew members must have received at least two doses of a vaccine approved by the Mauritian authorities, the last of which was taken more than 14 days ago. The licensed vaccines are: Astrazeneca (Covishield or Vaxzévria), Covaxin, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Sputnik V, Novavax (Nuvaxovid, Covavax) and at least one dose of the Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine that was taken more than 28 days ago.
- Crew members having received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and have tested positive for COVID for more than 7 days before the date of disembarkation, may, by decision of the Ministry of Health in Mauritius, be exempted from self-isolation, if they have a medical certificate attesting to the cure.
- Vessels may berth directly at the quay, without having to stay at anchor, even if they are carrying unvaccinated crew members.
- Negative PCR test results from the last port of call is no longer mandatory for vessel which intends to stopover at Port Louis Mauritius, as an antigen test will be carried out by private clinical practitioner on the entire vessel’s crew upon arrival with results within (1) one hour from the swab at the Quay/OPL/Anchorage.
- Crew members who meet the entry conditions and Antigen test reveals to be negative will be free to may circulate until departing schedule,
- In case that the antigen test reveals to be positive, therefore the below conditions/procedures will be applicable:
- The positive Crew member shall remain on board and won’t be able to disembark
- The positive crew member may be allowed to disembark following the green light from the Health Authority, in order to be accommodated in a chosen hotel by agent where he must be self-isolated for a maximum of 7 days after which he will be free without undergoing a COVID test
ON SIGNING CREWS
Criteria for entry into the country, without having to complete self-isolation:
- Passengers/seafarers who are considered to be vaccinated, and exempt from self-isolation on arrival, are those who:
- have received at least two doses of a vaccine approved by the Mauritian authorities, the last of which was taken more than 14 days ago. - Crew members who have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and have tested positive for COVID for more than 7 days before the date of disembarkation, may, by decision of the Ministry of Health in Mauritius, be exempted from self-isolation, if they have a medical certificate attesting to the cure.
- Crew members who do not meet these criteria must undergo for a self-isolation of 7 days. However, in certain specific cases, self-isolation may be avoided in the event of a positive test, by decision of a public health official in Mauritius.
VACCINATED CREWS:
- COVID PCR Test is no more required to be carried prior departing from home country.
- Procedures implemented by the Authorities for normal passengers shall also be applied for seafarers arriving by air.
- COVID PCR Test will be performed at the airport upon arrival and following same shall be free to enter the country.
- If the COVID test result is positive, the seafarers and agent will immediately be informed by health officials / Authority.
- Positive seafarers will have to be self-isolated for 7 days. Upon completion, they will be able to leave their self-isolation without having to take a COVID test. If the COVID test is negative, seafarers are free to circulate.
NON-VACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED CREWS:
- COVID PCR Test is no more required to be carried prior departing from home country.
- Seafarers having proof of reservation in a hotel, won’t require do not do a COVID test at the airport but will undergo the COVID test upon arrival at the hotel following an immediate self-isolated. If the COVID PCR Test reveals to be negative, all non-vaccinated seafarers must self-isolate for 7 days or until vessel’s ETA at the place where they reside. If these seafarers are traveling with other unvaccinated crews, they will be able to self-isolate together.
- They will have to take an exit COVID test on D7 or when departing from the hotel. Upon receipt of the negative result, they will come out on the morning of the eighth day or on the departing day.
- If the test reveal on the second swab be positive, the crew member will have to self-isolate alone in a room for an additional 7 days from the date of discovery of the positivity. They will be able to go out at the end of this isolation without having to perform a COVID test.
- If the test is positive, the seafarer will have to be self-isolated for 7 days and will no longer have to stay with the other crews with whom he traveled. He will be able to leave his self-isolation after 7 days, without having to take a COVID test
- If seafarer is significantly symptomatic during his isolation, he must report either to the hotel's health officer if he is accommodated in and in all other cases to the DMU (Domiciliary Monitoring Unit) which contact details being shared with the vessel’s agent at the time of the announcement of the positivity of his COVID test.
- If the clinical situation of one of the positive crew requires hospitalization, this can be done at the public hospital or in the private clinic at the cost of the company except in the case of a Mauritian.
- If a positive crew wishes to be evacuated abroad by air ambulance, this will be authorized, at the company’s expense and provided that the doctor in charge of the patient considers that he is transportable.
DIRECT SANITARY CORRIDOR FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE VESSEL
The protocol for the Direct Sanitary Corridor covers the below conditions:
- Non vaccinated Crews coming from countries where the vaccine is not accessible or do not meet the criteria for entry into the territory without self-isolation:
Seafarers arrive separately but are unvaccinated or do not meet the criteria for entering the territory without self-isolation,
- It is not mandatory to carry out a COVID test before boarding the plane
- On arrival at the airport, the crew members are identified and grouped together
- They do not benefit from a COVID test at the airport
- They are accompanied by a vehicle supervised by health directly to the boat, according to the protocol of the sanitary corridor
- If the vessel is berthed and it has been ensured that it is ready to sail before the new crew comes on board, the vessel must leave quickly after the new crew comes on board. - Under no circumstances should a member of the new crew be allowed to disembark from the ship prior departure.
- In the event of a technical breakdown, the agent must immediately alert the authorities and the ship must leave the quay to remain isolated at anchor to be sure that no seafarers are able to disembark.
- If vessel is at anchorage / drifting @ IPL and it is a partial crew change: the taxi boats that transport the crew from the port to the ship (4 identified boats), may receive the crews, while their launch crews, (fully vaccinated according to the definition reserved for the Mauritian community), are already in the cockpit, completely closed so that there is no contact between them and the ship's crew members. In this condition, staff can remain in their usual attire and wear a surgical mask. This situation must continue until the transported crew members have boarded their vessel. The health inspector, wearing an N95 mask, will accompany the group on the water taxi.
- Careful disinfection of the part of the water taxi where sailors arriving from abroad have been transported will then be carried out.
- No Visa is required and no restrictions to nations entering Mauritius as Crew of a vessel travelling on duty or in transit to join another vessel.
The below information is required to proceed with the Immigrations formalities of Crew Member, Passenger or Personnel attending the Vessel:
a. Copy of Passport, valid minimum Six (6) months
b. Seaman’s Book
c. Flight Details
d. E-Tickets
e. Vaccinations Card (full dose)
f. COVID 19 Treatment Health Insurance
g. Hotel Booking Confirmation (Proceed by Agent)
(For information about operations in Mauritius, contact the GAC Dubai Hub Agency Centre at [email protected])
Source: Celero Shipping , Mauritius – GAC agent
