NPA Guidelines on shore leave and crew changes during COVID 19
NPA GUIDELINES DURING COVID-19
Effective Immediately
ISSUE: Shore leave and Crew Changes during the COVID-19 pandemic
PURPOSE
Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) is committed to provide timely information and guidance to consider
for those working with the Port of Nanaimo. The purpose of this notification is to provide
temporary direction and guidance regarding crew changes and shore leave within the NPAjurisdiction
until a more unified Canadian Port Authorities protocol is developed nationally.
BACKGROUND
In order to be proactive and to prevent and minimize the spread of the virus and to contribute to
the health and safety of those working within the City and the Port of Nanaimo – NPA intends to
provide the following temporary direction and guidance based on best practices and recommendations
developed by the Transport Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the World Health
Organizati on.
TEMPORARY DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE
In order to contribute to the health and safety of those who work and support the business within
NPA, and to reduce and/or eliminate the risk of spreading of the Coronavirus within the Port of
Nanaimo jurisdiction, the following is implemented on a temporary basis:
SHORE LEAVE
At present, a controlled shore leave is permitted within the NPA jurisdiction for the asymptomatic
marine sector workers or healthy workers (HW) for a period of up to four hours, in a designated
area on Port grounds. During the four-hour period, the port will have positive control on the
activities of the HW, and he/she would be expected to:
1. follow Port specific COVID-19 protocols;
2. follow Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recommendations – PHAC recommendations
regarding COVID -19 prevention, including proper hand hygiene, physical distancing, and
cough/sneeze etiquette;
3. minimize contact with local workers at a destination;
4. closely self -monitor; and
5. self-isolate and contact the local public health authority should they exhibit any symptoms.
If HW are to access local stores (e.g. for pharmaceuticals, urgent personal care products, etc.)
or interact with health support services, they must follow PHAC advice as per above, any advice of
local health officials, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
HW onboard Canadian domestic vessels should follow the advice of their employer, local health
officials, and CBSA.
CREW CHANGES
International and domestic crew changes for the asymptomatic HW are allowed within NPA
jurisdiction. An exemption is provided to the marine sector workers or HW, as they are critical to
ensure the flow of marine trade, pursuant to the:
1. Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Prohibition ofEntrv into
Canada from anv Countrv other than the United States) (applicable section 3(1)(d)); and
2. Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order {Prohibition of Entry into
Canada from the United StatesL
HW must not have a fever and a cough, a fever and difficulty breathing, or have reasonable grounds
to suspect they have these symptoms. They are exempted from mandatory isolation provisions for
COVID-19 pursuant to the Quarantine Act. These HW in the trade and transportation sector are
important for the movement of goods and people and include the crew on any marine ship that cross
the Canadian border for the purpose of performing their duties.
Wit hin NPA jurisdiction crew changes will be allowed when Harbour Mast er’s office has
confirmation that CBSA has attended the ship and cleared the marine worker. The onus is upon the
Master of a ship or the ship’s agent to contact CBSA in order to facilitate the crew changes within
the NPA jurisdiction.
As CBSA enforces more than 90 acts and regulations that keep our country and Canadians safe, they
are an important partner of the NPA. CBSA supports NPA in keeping the Nanaimo Port community safe.
The Master of a ship or the ship’s agent are encouraged to contact the Harbour Master’s office
directly to facilitate contact with the CBSA, if required.
FOREIGN FLAGGED VESSELS
1. Foreign flagged ships are to ensure that all required components of the 96-hour and 24-hour
Pre-Arrival Inspection Report (PAIR) are completed in accordance with section 221 of the Marine
Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR);
2. Ship Masters with crew members and passengers symptomatic of the Coronavirus are to advise
NPA Harbour Master’s office immediately at 250-753-4146 ext. 231. TC Marine Safety and Security
should also be informed;
3. On ships with symptomatic crew members or passengers, TC Marine Security Inspectors will
advise PHAC Officials, who will follow up directly with the ship;
4. Based on the information provided in ‘3’ above, PHAC will provide follow-on directions;
5. In the event that PHAC determines that a crew member or passenger onboard a vessel to be at
risk, TC Marine Safety and Security, in coordination with PHAC, will provide notification to others
on a required basis (including but not limited to Nanaimo Port Authority, CCG, Pilotage
Authorities, TC Marine Safety, CBSA, etc)
DOMESTIC VESSELS
1 . The above procedures will not apply to Canadian Registered Vessels;
2. Domestic ships should report passengers and crew who are symptomatic of the Coronavirus to
provincial and local health authorities; and
3. If a case of Coronavirus is suspected, Masters of Canadian ships are to advise Transport Canada and
supporting agencies, i.e. Nanaimo Port Authority and Pilots prior to others boarding or coming into
contact with passengers from the vessel.
GENERAL
All requests for shore leave and crew changes will be subject to vetting and approval by the
Harbour Master’s office.
NPA will make every effort to work co-operatively with the various agencies to ensure that fair
administration of regulatory guidelines is adhered. The Port Authority will work collaboratively
with its Port partners to minimize the impact on shippers, agents, terminal operators and greater
community.
If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 250-753-4146 ext. 231.
Yours truly,
Signed by
Captain Satinder Singh MMM, MM
VP Marine Operations and Harbour Master