Health Authority News

Hong Kong providers of shipping services are breathing a sigh of relief after authorities announced they would ease strict quarantine restrictions imposed last July on vessels calling at the Asian shipping hub, trade sources said.From Tuesday, crew of non-cargo goods vessels visiting Hong Kong for shipping services, including bunkering and provision supplies, will be exempt from the curbs, subject to conditions, the Marine Department told shipping firms in a letter.“This is a long overdue relaxation as the trade had already demonstrated to the health authority here in Hong Kong that there is n

The Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) announced it is allowing crew changes to resume across all ports and anchorage areas in the region after crew changes in the major global shipping hub had been paused due to the coronavirus outbreak.Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and border closures imposed by governments around the world have caused significant hurdles to crew changes and left hundreds of thousands of seafarers stranded onboard ships or unable to join ships.

Royal Caribbean's Silversea Cruises says it is preparing to take delivery of its newest ship, Silver Origin, following a unique set of COVID-19-related challenges overcome by the shipbuilder and innovative sea trials that included world-first remote operations.The new 100-passenger ultra-luxury cruise ship was built by Dutch shipyard De Hoop, which completed construction despite setbacks brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.Silver Origin was still under construction on March 15…

A new ambient-temperature food examination facility has been formally opened at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, by Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill MP. The £4 million investment included a major refurbishment and expansion of the examination facilities and the provision of new offices for Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority. “This new state-of-the-art facility will ensure that vital imported products stay as fresh as possible. Some 40 per cent of the food on our supermarket shelves arrives by sea, so it must be checked efficiently in the most hygienic conditions. “The new inspection facilities are built to an incredibly high standard – safe, clean and hygienic – to maintain the integrity of the food chain to the highest requirements of upcoming legislation.

A large portion of Canada's biggest port was shut down on Wednesday after a chemical fire broke out amid numerous shipping containers piled up in a yard east of Vancouver's downtown core. The toxic smoke forced local residents to take shelter inside, while workers at Port Metro Vancouver and in the surrounding area covered their faces with scarves as they streamed out of their offices. By early evening, firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control and residents were allowed to leave their homes, though people were warned to stay away from the port. "Smoke is lessening, but people are encouraged to stay away from the fire area," the City of Vancouver said on its official Twitter account.

The IMO have reacted quickly in response to the international emergency recently declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In September the IMO issued an international circular ‘3484’ calling for a united response from the shipping industry to contain the virus. Specifically it calls for ship operators to define 'measures to reduce the risk of exposure' if they are likely to have ships trading to and from ports in Ebola-affected States.

The 50-days old nationwide Port Authorities strike continues to cause delays in some, but not all Brazilian ports. The strike of customs officers is affecting vessel’s clearance and other matters that require their attention such as crew replacement and spare parts clearance. Immigration is attending only once a day around 1600 to 1700hrs. The agents must stay there in advance to grant the services as ship clearance, crew changes etc. It is unclear of the impacts of the strike on ship's clearance and crew/passengers replacements. However delays are also expected within the next few days. Port health authority remains on strike and free pratique is being granted for 30% of demand. In Rio de Janeiro port, free pratique may take 72 hours to be granted.

Brazilian ports are facing problems in maintaining normal operations due to nationwide Health Authorities strike. Major Brazilian ports around the country are experiencing considerable delays. Vitoria in the south-east has reported a huge increase in the number of vessels at anchor awaiting their berthing turn. The number of vessels at anchorage increased almost ten-fold compared to customary port conditions. Local sources report that Santos Port has about 78 ships waiting at anchorage, in addition to considerable delays on loading/unloading, due to an accumulation of idle cargo inside the terminals awaiting its clearance be granted. Brazil's largest southern port, Paranagua, has more than 120 ships waiting at anchorage.

Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA), the government authority charged with regulating, coordinating and supervising all aspects of the maritime sector in Dubai, has announced that the Cruise Ship Emergency Response Task Force, convened in September, 2011, to address the challenges presented by the introduction of ever larger cruise ships to the UAE waters, hosted the first cruise sector mass casualty table top exercise and drill last week. The Task Force, comprised of federal and local emergency responders…

The project, which is the result of the collaboration between Telesal, Costa Cruises, Genoa’s Galliera Hospital, the C.I.R.M. and D’Apollonia, has premiered at the Telemedicine Conference in Rome. The experimental phase, which will be carried out on board the Italian line’s flagship Costa Concordia starting in early 2009, will enable the future real-time delivery of clinical care 24 hours a day even on the high seas. Europe’s first ever experiment in maritime telemedicine on board a large passenger ship has premiered at the Telemedicine Conference held at Rome’s Ospedale San Giovanni Calibita, Fatebenefratelli. The project is the result of the collaboration between Italy and Europe’s number one cruise line Costa Cruises…

Control safety inspection. under detention from previous months. detentions in comparison to June. decrease of 0.3% compared to June's 12 month rate. for 1 day at the London International Cruise Terminal, Tilbury. was carried out in conjunction with London Port Health Authority. nautical publications not up to date. with cockroaches and poor quality of drinking water. relevant areas. in the drinking water was not being adequately controlled. standards. Measures were put in to place to rectify the deficiencies. cargo ship was detained in Southampton on 28th July 2004. a poor condition with 49 deficiencies recorded. the ship met the requirements of the relevant International conventions. The ship is still under detention at the end of July.