Procedures for handling all foreign cargo vessels including tankers during CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC-COVID-19

TO: ALL Shipping Agencies (Foreign Ship), Custom, Quarantine, Port Authority (PFSO) & ALL Port Facilities, Immigration, Stevedore company, Pacific Energy, Total, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Fisheries, His Majesty’s Armed Force, Tonga Police, Ministry of Revenue and Customs.

1. Marine & Ports Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Designated Authority for Maritime Security, hereby circulates the changes to the Existing Procedures issued on the 18^th February 2020 to be effective today, 2^nd April 2020.

2. The Designated Authority also includes in this Circular the change in the Maritime Security Level. Marine & Ports circulates these Procedures to all relevant entities for implementation and enforcement. Shipping Agencies must circulate the notice to ALL respective ships calling Tonga for their information as soon as possible.

3. These procedures were agreed by the National Maritime Security Committee meeting on the 20^th March 2020 & 02^nd April 2020 at Marine & Ports Division office. These procedures are effective today and during the Corona Virus Pandemic – COVID-19.

4. The Procedures are to incorporate at the Declaration of Security (DOS) for agreement and between the Ship Security Officer(s) and Port Facility Security Officer(s) and implementation. Port Facility Security Officer(s) must implement the requirements of the security plan on LEVEL 2.

5. Ministry of Health Travel Advisory #5 direction number 7, must be followed as Nuku’alofa Port is now designated the ONLY first port of entry in Tonga for all foreign vessels.

6. Ministry of Health Travel Advisory #5 direction number 8, must be followed as ALL cruise ships and yachts including pleasure crafts scheduled to arrive after the 19^th March 2020 shall n9ot be granted entry into Tonga until further notice.

7. Security Level is raised from LEVEL 1 to LEVEL 2 for Ports of Nuku’alofa, Vava’u & ‘Eua ONLY when ships are calling to those ports.

8. Security Level 2 implementation must be in 2 hours before and an hour after the Pilot Station.

9. The implementation of the Procedures are to be monitored by the Monitoring Unit (consists of Officers from the Marine and Ports, Shipping Agents, Port Security & Maritime Coordination Centre).

10. The Maritime Coordination Center (MCC) assists on the enforcement of the Procedures on the maritime border/perspective.

11. Pilotage Service options may consider the following possibilities:

i. Exemptions

ii. Lead by Pilot boat/Naval Ship

iii. Boarding if (i & ii) are not possible

12. This circular is hereby approved by the Hon. Minister for Infrastructure and the Chair of the Maritime Security Committee to be circulated and implemented effective today.

PROCEDURES

1. Procedure for clearance

a) Agents circulate clearance document to all the relevant entities not later than 72hrs notice of arrival of ship.

b) Each relevant entity, must process and scan all documents of the ship with highly precautions before approval and grant the clearance to the ship via the agents. Agents only send electronic clearance to the ship(s).

c) Hard copy of the clearance documents must be handled by the ship’s agent and deliver it to each entities after the ship moor alongside the ports, Touliki & Toula Terminal.

d) All Shore Personnel must not board the ship except the stevedores.

e) Any ship directed by Ministry of Health for Quarantine, must use the Quarantine Anchorage Area at the following coordinates.

For yacht & pleasure boat;

21°07.3’S 175°10.3’W

and cargo vessel;

21°06.7’S 175°10.6’W

2. Procedure for cargo operations – Stevedore

a) Ship’s crew are not allowed to land on the wharf (no shore leave).

b) Stevedores are not allowed to enter the ship accommodation. Stevedores are only allowed at the cargo area with the most minimum number of personnel to safely carry out the cargo operation.

c) Only use VHF radio to communication between ship’s crew and all shore personnel including stevedores.

d) Ship’s crew must prepare cargo gear and cargo while the stevedores are waiting on the wharf.

e) Stevedore approved personnel must all wear PPE against the virus.

f) When all preparation for cargo operation completed, ship’s crew are required to stay inside the accommodation then the stevedore board for cargo operation.

g) For the ship’s gangway watchman must wear PPE for protection against the virus.

h) Landing ashore of any kind of Garbage from the ship is prohibited.

i) For all tankers, no one is allowed to board the ships including shore terminal personnel for sampling. The shore terminal personnel method for sampling is by lowering the sample from the ship.

3. Screen the Ship’s crew

1. Ministry of Health personnel must screen all ship including crew and determine the risk level for each ship as shown on A).
2. Ministry of Health must circulate all ship’s risk level to all members of the National Security Committee via email.

A) Risk Level (Both ship and crew)

Ship’s trade from countries that are on the list of annex. 1 of the Ministry of Health Travel Advisory no.8 and also updated list are HIGH RISK

Ship’s trade from affected countries are MIDIUM RISK

Ship’s trade around unaffected countries are LOW RISK

4. Pilots

1. Must wear PPE before boarding
2. Must use outside stair to the bridge.
3. Must not be in contact with anyone onboard less than 2 meters
4. PPE must collect by the Health personnel for disposal.

5. Foreign Fishing Vessel

1. 10 foreign fishing vessels currently fishing in Tonga water are not allowed to conduct a crew replacement until further notice.
2. Ministry of fisheries must share information to the committee if they are in doubt with any fishing vessel that may pose threats relating to COVID=19.

* PPE must approve by Ministry of Health Personnel designated for the task.