COVID-19: Update on crew changes at Sri Lankan ports

21 Aug 2020 / Sri Lanka

Restrictions currently in place for crew change of foreign seafarers has been relaxed and operations will commence on Monday 24 August.

Operational guidelines are as follows:

  • Prior notice of 96 hours is mandatory for any seafarer embarking/disembarking at any Sri Lankan port along with the required documents. As capacity is limited at the Isolation Center, more notice would be preferable.
  • As advised by the PPP, it will take 24 to 48 hours to complete the transfer process of an on-signer to the port upon landing, and for an off-signer to the airport upon disembarkation.
  • On-signers can stay up to 5 days upon arrival & off signers up to 7 days in Sri Lanka while waiting for the vessel/ departure flight
  • Sign-on crew arriving by air need to undergo a PCR test within the 72 hours before the flight departure and with a negative result.
  • Sign-off crew from the ship are to be certified by vessel Master as not having fever or other COVID-19 symptoms. PCR test to be done at Port and then proceed to IC.
  • Crew members are to stay at an Isolation Centerpending results from the PCR test. This Isolation Center will be a hotel approved by the Ministry of Health with WiFi & related amenities on full-board basis.
  • The service provider requires 100% advance funding prior to undertaking the crew change and cancellation charges are applicable.

The following commercial airlines are currently operating scheduled flights to Sri Lanka (outbound is commercial operation, inbound is currently a Ferry Service bringing passengers with special government approvals):

Airline

Hub

Qatar Airways

Doha

Emirates

Dubai

Etihad

Abu Dhabi

Turkish Airlines

Istanbul

China Eastern Airlines

Shanghai

In addition, Sri Lankan Airlines are operating special flights (outbound is commercial operation, inbound is for repatriation passengers only). For both outbound & inbound flights seafarers will require approval from the Presidential Secretariat. GAC Sri Lanka will coordinate with the service provider (CASA Consortium) and obtain the necessary approvals based on the submission of the required documentation, based on which inbound travel possibilities.

For further details and updates, 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.

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