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26 Oct 2020 / Western Australia, Australia

Amendment to direction on crew changes

The Western Australian State Government made changes to their “closing the borders” direction in relation to crew changes. A summary of these changes are as follows:

A maritime crew member can only disembark from an affected vessel:
1. at a Perth Port;
2. at a port other than a Perth Port if, as soon as possible (within 8 hours) after they disembark the vessel they board a charter flight to Perth airport;
3. at any port to undertake port activities;
or
4. at any port to transfer to another vessel in the port;

When the crew member disembarks an affected vessel or charter flight in Perth they must:

if the flight out of Australia leaves within 8 hours of disembarking the affected vessel in Perth or the arrival of the charter flight, travel directly to Perth airport for their flight out of Australia;
or
if the flight out of Australia does not leave within 8 hours of disembarking the affected vessel in Perth or the arrival of the charter flight, travel directly to a relevant place, which may include a quarantine centre or an approved crew hotel, and remain there while they wait for their flight out of Australia.

A crew member who is ordinarily resident in Australia may, in addition to the above, disembark a vessel in a Perth Port and go directly to a quarantine centre for 14 days. Or, if they disembark in a port other than a Perth Port, as soon as possible after they disembark the vessel, board a charter flight to an airport in the Perth metropolitan region and then go directly to a quarantine centre where they will undergo 14 days' quarantine.

PERSONS FLYING INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO BECOME CREW MEMBERS:
No real changes. Arrive in Perth and will go to either a Crew Hotel (Interstate Travellers) or a Quarantine Centre (International).

A Crew Member disembarking at a port that is not a Perth Port, and leaving Perth on a flight within 8 hours (arriving by vessel):
- can take a private chartered vehicle to a nearby regional airport
- must take a private chartered flight to Perth, to meet a flight leaving Australia

A Crew Member disembarking at a port that is not a Perth Port, and Leaving Perth on a flight more than 8 hours later (arriving by vessel):
- can take a private chartered vehicle to a regional airport
- must take a private chartered flight to Perth
- will be transported directly to a Quarantine Centre
- can leave the Quarantine Centre to meet a flight leaving Australia

Any crew member who disembarks in a port other than Perth will not be allowed to board a commercial flight.

In order to disembark a non-Australian resident must have a ticket or other confirmed booking for a flight to a destination outside of Australia.

SIGNING ON:

Crew must obtain a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600 or 651) well in advance before arriving in Western Australia.
WA Police Department exemption required before departing home country, processing of documentation can take 4+ days.
14 days Quarantine self-isolation required at a WA Police Quarantine registered Perth Hotel once arrived.
Domestic Flight required from Perth to Karratha/Port Hedland after 14 days Quarantine completed.
On-signing crew that transit through another Australian State, i.e, NSW, Victoria or Queensland, require permission to enter WA and could be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless otherwise exempted by the State Authorities.

SIGNING OFF:

Maritime Crew Visa (Subclass 988) required prior arrival in Western Australia. This allows 5 days ashore once disembarked, can be extended to 30 days by WA Immigration upon request.
WA Police Department exemption required before disembarking vessel, processing of documentation can take 4+ days.
14 days Quarantine self-isolation not required if a flight is booked to exit Western Australia within 24/48 hours of coming ashore.
Flights into Perth are very limited, the WA Government has reduced arrival capacity from overseas to 525 persons per week.
On-signing crew that transit through another Australian State, i.e. NSW, Victoria or Queensland, require permission to enter WA and could be required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival unless otherwise exempted by the State Authorities.

For information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

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

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