COVID-19 SOPs cancelled

12 Jun 2023 / Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Health has announced that all Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) issued during the COVID-19 pandemic are cancelled.

For vessel related operations, a Health Status Report (HSR) is no longer required anymore. Vessels do not need to re-obtain health clearance (after 24 hours) unless if it requested by PHO. It will be a one-time clearance for the vessel ops. Vessels still need to obtain health clearance from PHO before operations at berth, anchorage or Off Port Limits. The vaccination list to be provided along with other docs (Maritime Health declaration / IMO Crew list / Port of Calls list / Vaccination list) for clearance.

For crew change of seafarers/sea marshals/passengers and other personnel, health clearance is not required for routine embarkation/disembarkation from a berthed vessel which has obtained free pratique. Embarking/dis-embarking seafarers are not required to have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or be tested for COVID-19. However, health clearance is required for embarkation/disembarkation of persons of the vessels at OPL/Anchorage which have not obtained free pratique.

For emergency medical evacuations, no Covid-189 test or related documents are now required. Prior approval should be obtained from PHO for disembarking or obtaining shore passes for medical reasons. Requests for medical disembarkation should reach relevant PHO by Email or Over the phone (in an emergency) for prior approval. HDF of sick crew member to be forwarded to PHO for approvals. Hospital acceptance of the crew needs to be hospitalized to be forwarded to PHO for approval.

Prior Health clearance is not required to issue shore passes for the persons of the berthed vessel which have obtained free pratique. However, health clearance is required to issue shore passes for persons on vessels at OPL/Anchorage which have not obtained free pratique.

No COVID-19 test or related documents required for discharging human remains. 24 hours prior approval to be obtained by PHO.

For further details, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at [email protected]

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