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Instructions for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 cases on commercial pleasure craft after the removal of restrictive measures for the COVID-19 pandemic

1.   Purpose

The instructions concern the professional pleasure boats that are located in the Greek Territory and are active within it. The guidelines do not apply to commercial cruise ships entering from abroad, including cruise ships. 

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) infection pandemic is ongoing worldwide with countries in different epidemiological phases. In Greece the epidemic developed without many cases and with few losses. The effort to control the spread continues in all areas of activity, while at the same time the restrictive measures are lifted.

Greece at this stage offers a safe tourist destination and the resumption of marina operation is considered important for the economy. However, it is necessary to implement the measures described in the following instructions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection.

The following guidelines have been developed taking into account the scientific data on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (person-to-person transmission via droplets or contact) and are based on guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 ), of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19-pandemic ) and the European Joint Action EU HEALTHY GATEWAYS (https://www.healthygateways.eu/Novel-coronavirus ).

2.   General recommendations

It is advisable for the tourist public that uses commercial pleasure boats to avoid remote destinations where it will be difficult to seek medical help if needed. This is especially true for vulnerable groups as defined by the Ministry of Health. It is also advisable to avoid destinations in remote areas where there are no organized healthcare facilities. 

3.   Determining the maximum number of passengers

The maximum number of passengers allowed on commercial pleasure craft is:

(a) in the case of a ship with a capacity of up to twelve (12) passengers no change occurs;

(b) in the case of a ship with a capacity of more than twelve (12) passengers then the capacity of more than twelve (12) passengers at a time is reduced by half and added to that of twelve (12) passengers. In the event that this reduction does not result in an integer, it is rounded to the next.

The above limits are observed throughout the trip as well as during mooring.

Similarly, the above limits are valid until June 15, 2020, when the implementation of the measure and the epidemiological situation will be re-evaluated and possibly revised.

4.   Passenger registration book and health status

Each professional yacht keeps the status of passengers and crew as defined in the provisions of Law 4256/2014 (A '92), which also contains a contact telephone accessible for the next 14 days. The status of passengers will be available for inspection by the port and health authorities in electronic or printed form.

Each person such as passenger, visitor, technician, etc., completes, before boarding the ship, the form of Annex 1 for the detection of persons exposed to COVID-19, which he will deliver to the Master or Captain during boarding. The Master or Governor will receive the completed forms and evaluate them. In the event of detection of persons exposed to COVID-19 in any of the ways described in the Annex 1 form for the last 14 days, boarding will not be permitted.

Crew members must immediately inform the Master / Captain or the shipowner / shipowner in the event of a positive answer to at least one of the questions in the Annex 1 form.

The questionnaire will be kept by the shipowners or shipowners for two months from the day of its receipt in accordance with the legislation on personal data protection. 

In addition to ταξ one week trips and number of passengers (excluding crew) ≥15 it is recommended to perform a diagnostic test with molecular test 48 hours before boarding.

Regarding the crew, it is recommended to perform a diagnostic test with a molecular test during the first assignment of the crew. In addition, a ship will be kept on board to monitor the health status of the passengers. Crew members and passengers should have their body temperature measured once a day, which will be recorded in the occupants' health record book. The book will be available for inspection by the port and health authorities in electronic or printed form.

If any of the occupants develop symptoms of COVID-19 infection (sudden onset of illness, with at least one of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath), then this should be recorded in the occupant's health record book and should be activated. the COVID-19 Suspicious Incident Management Plan. 

5.   Reporting a suspected COVID-19 case to the competent authority

According to the International Health Regulations (ICS 2005), the Master or Captain of the ship must immediately inform the competent authority of the next port, prior to arrival, of any public health risk on board, including any case of illness for which there is suspected of being contagious. This information is provided by completing and submitting electronically or by any other appropriate means the Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH). The Captain or Captain shall also inform the competent port authority of the number of passengers (crew and passengers).

If any person on board (crew member or passenger) develops symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection (including the sudden onset of at least one of the following: cough, fever or shortness of breath), they should report it immediately to the appropriate authority. ways mentioned above. It is important to inform the competent health authorities immediately to determine if the capacity to transport, isolate, laboratory diagnose and care for the suspected COVID-19 incident is available at the port. The ship may be called to another port if the necessary port capacity is not available, or if it is justified by the medical condition of a suspected COVID-19 incident.

6.   Suspicious incident management plan COVID-19

Each vessel must develop a written plan for the management of a suspected COVID-19 case, which will describe the following: : cough, fever, shortness of breath), b) the communication and information plan of the competent authority at the next port / marina regarding the suspected case, c) the process of temporary isolation of the person considered a suspected case COVID-19 until safe transport for medical diagnosis (stay in a room with natural ventilation, placing a surgical mask on the person with symptoms, administration of tissues, plastic bag for disposal and hand antiseptic with 70% alcohol content), d) use of surgical mask, goggles,waterproof apron with long sleeves and gloves from anyone entering the temporary isolation area (used protective equipment should be disposed of in a bag and never reused, and hands should be washed thoroughly with water and discarded after disposing of protective equipment). soap), e) ventilation of the temporary isolation area and cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and objects after removal of the patient with 0.1% bleach solution (4 teaspoons of 5% bleach per 1 liter of water) or 70% ethyl alcohol with a contact time of 10 minutes (cleaning materials should either be discarded or washed at 90 ° C before reuse),(f) the reporting procedure to the competent port authority of the suspected COVID-19 incident and all patient contacts starting two days before the onset of symptoms.

The Captain or the Commander of the ship is responsible for the implementation of the written plan, the details of which are recorded in the written plan. 

If any of the occupants develop compatible symptoms the plan should be implemented. The patient should be examined by a physician and tested for SARS-CoV-2. If it is laboratory confirmed that the patient has a COVID-19 infection then the patient should be isolated in a land facility and those who came in close contact with him should be quarantined for 14 days according to the instructions of the health authorities and the E.O. .DY .. All the necessary actions for the further management of the incident will be done in accordance with the competent health authority and the instructions of EODY.

7.   Adequacy and proper use of personal protective equipment

Sufficient amounts of antiseptics, disinfectants, personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies should be available. The first aid kit must have a digital infrared thermometer and a finger pulse oximeter. 

There should be written instructions for the proper use of personal protective equipment and the ship's crew should be aware of their use.

Information on personal protective equipment for crew members, depending on their duties on board and their proper use is available in English from the European Joint Action HEALTHY GATEWAYS at the following link:

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_PPE_Overview_24_04_2020_F.pdf?ver=2020-04-27-141221-467

Appropriate PPE placement and removal procedures / best practices for PPE are available from EODY at the following websites:

8.   Recommendations for crew and passengers 

Visitors and crews on board

Visits to the ship and any kind of gathering that exceeds the maximum permissible number of people inside the ship as specified in paragraph 3 should be avoided. If external crews enter the ship, distances of 1.5 meters should be observed and it is recommended the use of a mask (eg fabric) by both the crew members and the occupants during the stay of the crew members on board. Also the ship's sanitary facilities should not be used by external crews.

Use of personal protective equipment

When visiting onshore facilities it is recommended to use a mask (eg fabric).

It is recommended to use gloves when refueling, tying, and other procedures that require touching equipment surfaces used by many people and there is no nearby hand washing facility or antiseptic station. The installation and removal of the gloves will be done according to the instructions for their proper application. It is emphasized that the use of gloves does not replace hand washing, before and after the removal of gloves hand hygiene should be applied with soap and water or with antiseptic.

Personal hygiene

Hand hygiene with soap and water should be applied. If the hands are not visibly soiled, an alcoholic antiseptic solution with an alcohol content of 70% may be used as an alternative. It is emphasized that the use of gloves does not replace hand washing, before and after the removal of gloves hand hygiene should be applied with soap and water or with antiseptic.

There should be antiseptic stations at the entrance to the ship's interior.

Proper respiratory hygiene should be applied properly, ie covering the mouth and nose with a tissue during coughing and coughing and then discarding it in a plastic bag and applying antiseptic to the hands. For this purpose, care must be taken for the respective equipment (tissues or paper towels, disposable gloves, plastic bag, etc.).

Touch of the face, nose and eyes should be avoided.

Social distance

When visiting indoor and outdoor outdoor areas on land, it is recommended to maintain a social distance of 1.5 meters between people and the use of a mask (eg fabric).

9.   Information and training of the crew and passengers

The crew must be informed and trained according to their duties as follows: in the COVID-19 suspected case management plan, in the use of personal protective equipment, in the application of personal hygiene and social distance, as well as in the other specific regulations of the ports of destination for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

In particular, information and education concern:

  • The fact that they should not travel if they have been in contact with a COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days before the trip.
  • Hand washing techniques (frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, use of gloves does not replace hand hygiene).
  • After which activities should hands be washed e.g. Hands should be washed after any contact with another person or their respiratory secretions (saliva, droplets), with objects touched by other persons such as handrails, handles, etc., before applying the mask, before and after removing the mask, before and after removing the gloves, after using the toilet, before eating, before touching the face, etc.
  • In which cases it is recommended to use antiseptics instead of hand washing (eg if the hands are not visibly dirty, an alcoholic solution may be used alternatively).
  • In meticulous observance of hygiene measures, and in particular: avoid contact of hands with mouth, nose or eyes.
  • Avoid contact with patients who have respiratory symptoms.
  • Proper waste management.
  • Proper use of personal protective equipment (mask and gloves).

Crew and passengers should be trained to report the relevant symptoms of COVID-19 infection directly to the Master or Commander.

10.       During boarding and during the journey, passengers will be provided with information (eg brochures, newsletters, audio messages, etc.) about the symptoms of the infection and preventive measures to passengers and staff and instructions. for the immediate reporting of symptoms to the crew if they occur during the trip. Ventilation and air conditioning

Natural ventilation of the premises is recommended as much as possible. In addition, and where they apply, the provisions of the relevant circular of the Ministry of Health "Taking measures to ensure public health from viral and other infections when using air conditioners" apply, with emphasis on non-recirculation of air. After the cleaning of the ship to be preceded by three hours of ventilation of the premises before the entry of new passengers.

11.  Cleaning and disinfection of premises

During the charter, the Master or Captain of the ship and its crew takes care of the frequent cleaning of the ship with detergents and disinfectants, with care and special emphasis on frequently touched surfaces, such as handles, handrails, etc. bathrooms.

Disinfection of the ship will be carried out after the end of the charter of the ship and before the start of the new one. 

Instructions for the cleaning and disinfection of the premises are given in the circular 30/3/2020 No. Prot. Δ1γ / Γ.Π / οικ.21536 of the Ministry of Health, on the subject: "Application of cleaning and disinfection measures on boats in case of transport of a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19".

12.       Avoid transactions for a living

It is recommended to prefer electronic transactions, orders, purchases of services and goods, equipment, and to prefer telephone consultation as much as possible.

Instructions for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 cases on commercial pleasure craft after the removal of restrictive measures for the COVID-19 pandemic

Pre-boarding health declaration questionnaire

(completed by all adults before embarkation)

VESSEL’S NAME

VESSEL’S PORT OF REGISTRY/NO OF REGISTRY

 

 

 

DATE AND TIME OF INITIAL EMBARKATION

PORT OF INITIAL EMBARKATION

 

 

 

Contact telephone number for the next 14 days after disembarkation:

 

 

 
   

First Name

as shown in the Identification Card/Passport:

Surname as shown in the Identification Card/Passport:

Father’s name:

   

First Name of all children travelling with you who are under 18 years old:

Surname of all children travelling with you who are under 18 years old:

Father’s name:

   
   

 

 

Questions:

 

Within the last 14 days

 

YES

NO

1.    Have you, or has any person listed above, presented sudden onset of symptoms of fever or cough or difficulty in breathing?

  

2.    Have you, or has any person listed above, had close contact with anyone diagnosed as having coronavirus COVID-19? 

  

3.    Have you, or has any person listed above, provided care for someone with COVID-19 or worked with a health care worker infected with COVID-19?

  

4.    Have you, or has any person listed above, visited or stayed in close proximity to anyone with COVID-19?

  

5.    Have you, or has any person listed above, worked in close proximity to or shared the same room/environment with someone with COVID-19?

  

6.    Have you, or has any person listed above, travelled with a patient with COVID-19 in any kind of conveyance?

  

7.    Have you, or has any person listed above, lived in the same household as a patient with COVID-19?

  

 

 

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