COVID-19 - UK & Ireland Port Updates

30 Nov 2020 / United Kingdom

Crew changes can currently be carried out in the U.K. as long as usual visas and/or ILO 108 Seaman’s Books are carried. There is no requirement for seafarers to self-isolate in the U.K. however they are required to complete an online health check form 48 hours before arrival or departure. There are also some restrictions in place to limit launch and taxis passenger numbers and hotel rooms can carry extra cost in comparison to normal operations. GAC UK can arrange testing and isolation rooms in hotels on a case by case basis. It is also advisable but not mandatory that crew carry a letter from their employer stating details such as employer, vessel, rank, working location and period of employment.

According to the latest Government guidelines you do not need to complete the passenger locator form when departing a vessel in the UK if you are a recognised seafarer in ownership of a seaman’s book. However, we have had a few instances recently when local Border Force officers have still requested the forms for offsigning marine and project crew so it may be recommendable to continue to complete passenger locator forms for both arrival/departure UK by air in order to avoid any possible delays/fines. To clarify seafarers arriving into the UK by air MUST still complete the online passenger form regardless. The statement reads that this is no longer required but that is referring to those arriving by sea only.

The UK Government travel corridor list is being continually updated on a week-by-week basis, please double check the list before planning any crew travel.

If a person has been to, or stopped in, a country that is NOT on the travel corridor list in the last two weeks they will still need to self-isolate until 14 days has passed since they left that country. If you have crew travelling to the UK who are NOT from a country listed on the corridor list (ie USA, Philippines) then please follow our latest quarantine guidelines attached relating to seafarer self-isolation exemptions.

If you are planning to perform any crew changes, including on-signing non-ship crew (Inspectors, Engineers, Superintendents etc) please contact your local GAC branch in advance with all the details. They will check with their local Border Force office to ensure compliance with all the latest rulings.

The below ports currently have some restrictions in place for crew change. All other UK & Irish ports are currently permitting crew change operations:

  • Braefoot Bay - no crew changes unless emergency
  • Flotta - crew changes not permitted
  • Ineos LPG & Hound Point - crew changes not permitted (Ineos J & E Jetties still permitting)
  • Milford Haven – crew changes only permitted at VPOT via Boat. Crew changes permitted via jetty at Puma. Crew changes permitted at Dragon LNG & South Hook LNG
  • Pembroke – crew changes permitted at Valero via Boat only
  • Sullom Voe - crew change considered on a case by case basis

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

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