Travel restrictions for Italy /updated advice for commercial vessels

11 Mar 2020 / Australia

Effective 11 March 2020 at 1800 AEDST, foreign nationals who are in Italy on or after 1800 AEDST 11 March 2020, will not be allowed to enter Australia for 14 days, from the time they have left or transited through Italy. These restrictions will replace the enhanced health screening measures that took effect on 5 March 2020 at 2100 AEDST.

Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family, legal guardians and spouses will be exempt from these measures, but will be required to self-isolate for a period of 14 days from their arrival into Australia.

The Australian Border Force (ABF), working with partner agencies, will establish advanced screening and reception arrangements to facilitate identification of those individuals to whom these measures apply…

...All vessel masters will be required to answer the following health screening questions as part of their entry reporting:
1. Has the vessel been in Italy on or after 1800 AEDST 11 March 2020?
2. Has any person on the vessel been in Italy on or after 1800 AEDST 11 March 2020?

ABF and Biosecurity officers remain responsible for border clearance processes. Vessels that report ill persons will undergo a human health inspection by a Biosecurity Officer on arrival in Australia, and before the vessel is granted pratique.

Vessels that report persons who have been in Italy on or after 1800 AEDST 11 March 2020 are subject to additional restrictions outlined in this document.

For Commercial Vessels that departed Italy on or after 1800 AEDST 11 March 2020
- All crew will remain on-board while the vessel is berthed in Australia.
- Crew are only able to disembark to conduct essential vessel functions and crew must wear personal protective equipment while performing these functions.
- The restrictions above apply until 14 days has elapsed since the vessel or any person on- board left Italy.

For Commercial Vessels with crew joining from Italy
- Where a commercial vessel has crew joining the vessel and that crew have travelled to or transited through Italy on or after 1800 AEDST 11 March 2020, all crew are to remain on-board the vessel.
- Crew are only able to disembark to conduct essential vessel functions and crew must wear personal protective equipment while performing these functions.
- The restrictions above apply until 14 days has elapsed since the vessel or any person on- board left Italy.

For Maritime Industry
- Industry members engaging with commercial maritime vessels subject to the restrictions outlined above should consider the use of personal protective equipment.
- Maritime Pilots will be provided personal protective equipment for the initial engagement with those vessels subject to restrictions.

Local Port Authority
The requirements outlined in this document are required to facilitate border clearance of vessels and their crew. Local port authorities may have additional requirements over and above those outlined.

For general information concerning the Novel Coronavirus please refer to the Department of Health website (https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov).

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at [email protected])

Source: Australia Border Force updated advice dated 11 March 2020

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