Guidelines on protection of health, repatriation and travel arrangements for seafarers, passengers and other persons on board ships

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 8 April 2020, setting out a number of guidelines relating to the repatriation of cruise ship passengers and the protection of ship crews.

Further information:

These guidelines state that persons on board of ships should be able to undertake essential travel, and that EU citizens stranded in Member States other than that of their nationality or residency, in third countries or on the High Seas should be able to return home, if their health status permits.

They also highlight that seafarers from third countries on cargo vessels in European waters should be able to travel to the ports where they need to embark and be allowed to disembark and return home. Only when crew changes are possible can maritime transport continue uninterrupted. Therefore, Member States should designate ports, where crew changes are facilitated. To ensure the continuity and safety of maritime transport, the European Commission vowed to take steps to facilitate and coordinate efforts of Member States to enable crew changes in their ports.

These Guidelines follow up on previously published guidance on border management measures and guidance on the implementation of green lanes.

Official

European Commission: Press Release, 08/04/2020: Coronavirus: guidance on repatriating cruise ship passengers and protecting ship crews https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_20_619

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Commission presents guidelines on health, travel arrangements and repatriation of persons on board ships (8 April 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_632

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