What Importers need to know about Novel Coronavirus
What Importers Need to Know about Novel Coronavirus
The current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is impacting shipping globally. While the majority of cases are confined to mainland China, concerns about transmission of the virus have resulted in a range of new measures being applied to all vessels entering Australia.
On 1 February 2020, the Australian Government introduced measures to help protect the country from the spread of novel coronavirus. These measures, covering health, border security and maritime activity, will impact all importers and affect the entry of goods into Australia.
Here’s an overview of the measures put in place and how they might affect you as an importer.
Extra Border Measures to Combat Novel Coronavirus
On 1 February 2020, Australia introduced extra border measures, health screening and isolation recommendations for people and vessels travelling to Australia from mainland China. These measures apply to people arriving in Australia who have left, or transited, through mainland China and to vessels which meet additional coronavirus requirements.
Prior to entering Australia territorial waters, all vessel masters will be required to answer the following questions as part of entry reporting:
Did the vessel leave or transit through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 and less than 14 days ago?
Have any persons left, or transited through mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 and less than 14 days ago?
Have any persons shown signs of illness or come in contact with any confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the previous 14 days?
Where the answer to any of these questions is yes, additional coronavirus requirements will apply.
Additional Coronavirus Requirements for Vessels
Health Screening and Self-Isolation
Crew and passengers on board vessels subject to the additional coronavirus requirements may be subject to additional health screening and self-isolation requirements when disembarking in Australia.
As per normal processes, all passengers and crew who have been ill in the past 14 days are legally required to be recorded on the pre-arrival report via the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS) and will be screened using the Traveller with Illness Checklist (TIC).
If deemed necessary, crew and passengers may also be asked to self-isolate for a period of 14 days to reduce the chance of transmission of infection.
Foreign Crews
For commercial vessels that have left, or transited, mainland China within the last 14 days or vessels with crew who have joined them from mainland China, all crew members will be asked to remain on board the vessel while berthed in Australia. This requirement will last until 14 days have elapsed since the vessel or any person on board last left mainland China.
Under these additional coronavirus requirements, the crew will only be able to disembark to conduct essential vessel functions and must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing these functions.
Maritime Staff
As a precautionary measure, appropriate PPE must be worn by port authorities and maritime staff when interacting with people on board a vessel with additional coronavirus requirements. Following these guidelines will exempt maritime staff from health screening and isolation recommendations on arrival into Australian ports.
Should maritime staff come in contact with people with symptoms of coronavirus while on board, the staff member should advise a biosecurity officer. It’s unnecessary for port authorities or maritime staff to wear PPE if they are not boarding a vessel subject to additional coronavirus requirements, or not interacting with crew or passengers.
What this means for importers
If your incoming shipment is subject to additional coronavirus requirements it may take longer for your goods to be cleared for entry into Australia. You may also be affected by additional measures being introduced into other ports around the world, which are starting to have flow-on effects globally.
Airfreight has also been affected with flights cancelled due to travel bans and the extended Chinese New Year holiday (brought in to curb the spread of the virus). Many shippers have not yet returned to work following Chinese New Year which will have an impact on shipping times and expected delivery dates.
Your business may also be impacted by China’s measures to stop the spread of novel coronavirus within its own borders. These measures have already led to slower loading and discharging of cargo in Chinese ports, decreased land and river transportation of goods and reduced capacity to repair ships due to limited staff and resources.
Further Information
If you have specific questions about upcoming shipments and how they may be affected by the current novel coronavirus outbreak, contact the Maritime National Coordination Centre 1300 004 605 or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.
If you have any questions about coronavirus restrictions currently in place at the Port of Darwin, contact PJ’s Customs for more information. Email us at logistics@pjscustoms.com.au or give us a call on 1300 395 760 to find out more.