Several maritime-related rules to combat COVID have been cancelled at the Port of Geraldton, according to a new Harbour Master Instruction from Mid West Ports.
The Instruction noted that vaccinations have occurred on a global scale, that a “high” level of WA’s population is vaccinated, that the global seafarer vaccination level is also climbing, and that the WA Government has revoked two key COVID-control directions.
As at 10 March 2023, there were over 676 million COVID cases around the world resulting in over 6.88 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. There were over 13,338 million (13.34 billion) vaccinations given. The University stopped collected data in March this year.
In Western Australia, there were 1.23 million confirmed cases resulting in 920 deaths, according to the WA Government as at 27 January this year. There have been over 7.1 million vaccine doses in WA. In Australia as a whole, there have been 11.3m million cases in Australia leading to 18,615 deaths. There have been just under 66 million anti-COVID vaccine doses administered. Approximately 95.6% of all seafarers were vaccinated by January 2023, according to the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing*.
At Geraldton, the following changes have occurred:
- Back scanning of vessel’s history (crew changes, ports visited etc) – no longer required
- PCR test results for recent on-signing crew members – no longer required
- Twice daily temperature check records for all crew members for the last 14 days – no longer required
- Requirement to submit health declaration forms prior to visit (Form 3B (and 2B where applicable) and Form 13) – MWPA Crew List not required
- ‘Quarantine Period’ 7 Days for all vessels coming from international ports – was mandatory but now can be requested at Port’s discretion unless the following can be satisfied: Negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) test results for all crew. Test to be conducted 24 hours prior to Pilot Onboard time
- Pilots to wear Covid-19 personal protective equipment – no longer required
- Any individuals visiting vessels (surveyors, stevedores etc) to wear Covid-19 personal protective equipment
The Mid West Ports Authority concludes by noting that it will continue to monitor the COVID pandemic and may revise its requirements.
*Disclosure: Shipping Australia is a signatory to the Neptune Declaration.
