Pre-berthing procedure for off-signing crew

16 May 2020 / Port Arthur, United States

Several planned off-signings have been recently cancelled due to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Arthur deciding not to board the respective vessels nor to allow the off-signers to disembark for clearance.

As a proactive measure, GAC North America has agreed with CBP Port Arthur to follow a pre-berthing procedure that will hopefully avoid any cancelations:

  • all offsigner personnel details will be submitted by our office to CBP for review as soon as available

  • the Master will be asked to submit a dated crew list with the temperature of every crew member and passenger, at least 24 hours prior to berthing

  • joining crew will not embark the vessel until CBP has completed an on-board inspection. This way, if CBP cancels the inspection, the joiners are still in C1 visa status and may be returned home directly.

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

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