France?Crew Change Policy Guidelines in Week 23?of 2022

France: the epidemic situation is slowing down. Experts warn that the epidemic is not over yet.

Since May, the situation of COVID-19 in France has tended to ease. According to French official data, 40224 new confirmed cases were added in a single day on May 6, a decrease of 24% compared with the same period last week; The average number of newly confirmed cases in France fell back to about 46000 in a single day; The incidence rate of the new crown in France is also declining. At present, the incidence rate is 472 infected persons per 100000 residents, a decrease of 36.3% compared with the previous week.

However, experts also warned that the COVID-19 is still not over, and new virus variants may appear. This is the situation we faced last summer. Last May, people expected the end of the epidemic, but in June, we had to deal with the delta strain. Experts predict that new virus variants will appear this autumn or even earlier.

According to the epidemic map of the global intelligent ship service management platform E-PORTS, under the influence of the new round of Omicron epidemic, the policies of France?main ports have been changed?on 18th?May, 2021.

1.?Are there any restrictions on vessels whose previous port call was from COVID -19 high risk countries?

-Health declaration is required by Master on every port call regardless of where the vessel comes from.

- If there is a case of crew with fever, then Harbour Master will contact specialized medical Center who will instruct isolation measures to be taken.

-If there is no case declared by Master, then vessel is free pratique and can anchor or berth normally

2.1 Crew change permitted?

? Yes, but subject to the following conditions:

- For the port of Marseille, port immigration authorities impose 10 days quarantine after arrival in France from these countries (even flights in transit) : Turkey, South Africa, Argentina, Bangladeh, Brazil, Chile, UAE, Qatar, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Guyana. Quarantine must be done at the Hotel where onsigners can be controlled by authorities.

- This is not applied in other ports like Le Havre or Dunkirk where crew change can be arranged without any quarantine at same below conditions :

1.?Onsigners are required a less than 72 hrs negative PCR test before arrival. They may be asked in the airport to certify that they will board directly or will stay at the hotel if the vessel has not arrived yet. They will not be imposed any quarantine time before boarding. This applies to all foreign nationalities.

2. Offsigners are also required to leave with a negative PCR Test. We can arrange the test and results are usually available within 24hrs. This applies to all foreign nationalities.

- Crew change is permitted for Schengen crew

- For non Schengen countries, the following documents need to be provided 72 hours to the local immigration authority before arrival or departure of crew.

1. Details of crew and flight details

2. Health declaration from vessel

3. Passport copy of crew on signers and off signers

4. Crew list

5. Attestation duly completed for each crew

- There is no quarantine procedure in France

- Onsigners are required a less than 72 hrs negative PCR test before arrival. They may be asked in the airport to certify that they will board directly or will stay at the hotel if the vessel has not arrived yet. They will not be imposed any quarantine time before boarding. The same applies to all foreign nationalities.

- Offsigners are also required to leave with a negative PCR Test. The test can be arranged and results are usually available within 24hrs. The same applies to all foreign nationalities.?

2.?Any other restrictions due to COVID - 19?

? FOS/LAVERA/MARSEILLES ports

- All vessels that arrive in the Gulf of Fos between 22H and 0500 LT will not be allowed to anchor on roads prior to 0700 LT.

? The sea or river carriers must carry out disinfectant cleaning of the spaces of the ship at least once a day.

On E-PORTS platform, COVID-19 Global Port Restriction Map collects information of main ports in the world and releases authoritative and official announcements of various policy changes caused by the COVID-19. For more details about port restrictions and crew change information, please visit: https://www.e-ports.com/app/virusmap.html

Click on each country in the map to display the crew change policy for the country.

For more information on the port and crew change policy, please click 【Contact Local Agent】?for enquiries.