Updated exemption conditions for crew changes

09 Feb 2021 / Hong Kong

From 20 February 2021, crew members of goods vessels with cargo operations in Hong Kong will be subject to the exemption conditions.

According to the Centre for Health Protection, Port Health Division, notice dated 5 February 2021, the major changes are as follows:

  • For good vessels which have called at the ports of any country outside China during the 21 days prior to arrival in Hong Kong, ship companies are required to either:
    (a) arrange a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test for the signing-off sea crew at an ISO15189-accredited laboratory recognised by the Government where the laboratory is located with the specimen collected within 72 hours prior to the vessel’s ETA at Hong Kong and obtain a negative result;
    OR
    (b) arrange the signing-off sea crew to take a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test by one of the recognised testing institutions in Hong Kong upon the vessel’s arrival, and these crew members will need to stay on board until the result (negative) is available.

  • Signing-off sea crew from goods vessels which have called at the ports of any country outside China during the 21 days prior to arrival in Hong Kong who are Hong Kong residents AND will stay in Hong Kong after signing off are no longer exempted from compulsory quarantine. They will be subject to the test-and-hold arrangement as with other non-exempted persons. Those signing off Hong Kong crew must use land transportation designated by the Government to the designated quarantine hotels direct from the location where they go ashore. If there is such type of sea crew to be signed off, contact the duty Port Health Officer 72 hours before the vessel’s arrival.

  • For signing-on crew arriving at Hong Kong International Airport, they must only use the designated channel within the airport to arrive at the designated pick-up point located at Carpark 4. Coaches and light goods vehicles are prohibited from entering the car park.

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Hong Kong, contact GAC Hong Kong at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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