Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

With the Coronavirus outbreak developing rapidly, Members are advised to be prepared. This page collates information and advice on the outbreak and Members are advised to check back regularly for updates.

Members are advised that information on the coronavirus outbreak, can be found on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coronavirus webpage, including the latest situation reports.

Additional information can be also found on the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page as well as a joint statement from the WHO and IMO regarding the outbreak (links below).


  • Coronavirus News 18 Mar, 2020
    Response to the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation

    We continue to closely monitor developments around the evolving global response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The health and welfare of our staff in all regional services centres is of course our highest priority.

    Tom Bowsher
    Tom Bowsher
    Group CEO

  • News 04 Feb, 2020
    Coronavirus - guide for Members on potential legal issues

    The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak a global emergency. Several legal issues for shipowners, operators and charterers may arise as a result of the outbreak and this article illustrates some of the most likely issues Members may face.

    Julien Rabeux
    Julien Rabeux
    Senior Claims Manager

FAQ's

The Club has produced a set of FAQs to help guide Members on the most common questions currently being asked about the impacts of Covid-19 and the operation of Club cover. Please note that this is a dynamic list and will be amended and added to as the situation evolves. Members with any other questions are asked to contact the Managers in the usual way.

There is cover for expenses and liabilities incurred by Members for a crew member who is ill or dies due to Covid-19 during his/her period of employment.  This would be treated in the same way as any other crew illness or death claims. There are no exclusions from cover for Covid-19 related crew illnesses or deaths.
   
Given the current situation worldwide with the Covid-19 outbreaks, Members may experience delays and difficulties in obtaining treatment ashore for a crewmember who becomes ill with Covid-19 or similar symptoms.  Please contact the Managers and/or local correspondents for assistance.
 

Where a diversion is necessary to obtain appropriate treatment for a crew crewmember, whatever the illness, Members may seek reimbursement of the net costs from the Club under Rule 2 section 5.
 
We recommend that Members contact the Managers to obtain up to date information regarding the restrictions, if any, existing in the intended port of refuge. These are changing rapidly due to the developing situation and could affect the ability to disembark the crewmember and obtain the appropriate treatment ashore.
 

It is likely that Members will be responsible for the crewmember’s health and safety during his return journey to his homeland, under the crew employment contract. Therefore, any claim for expenses and liabilities that arise from this crewmember’s illness are recoverable from the Club. In the event the crewmember becomes ill sometime after returning home, there may be instances where Members are still held responsible for this crewmember, depending on the relevant jurisdiction and the facts of the case. In the event the Member is considered liable then Club cover would respond accordingly.
 

Under Rule 2 section 15 any additional expenses incurred as a result of the outbreak of Covid-19 on board would be covered under this Rule. This would include the net expenses and running costs of the vessel during any quarantine period, the costs of carrying out a deep clean of the vessel and other expenses provided they are incurred as a direct consequence of the outbreak on board the insured vessel.
 

In the event there is no outbreak of an infectious disease on board, then such costs would not be covered under Rule 2 section 15.
 

These would be operational/precautionary expenses, in the event the quarantine was imposed on the crewmembers arriving from a certain country/area. They are not incurred as a direct consequence of an outbreak on board the entered vessel and are most likely due to government restrictions on travel regarding the country of origin or destination.
 

In the event it is necessary to extend the contract of various crewmembers as they are unable to be repatriated at the end of the contract due to various travel restrictions imposed to combat the spread of Covid-19, would such additional wages be covered? 

Reimbursement of such additional wages would not be recoverable under a vessel’s P&I cover unless the crew were prevented from leaving the vessel due to an outbreak of Covid-19 on board. In the event, the crewmember had to extend the contract of service due to travel restrictions there would be no cover for such expenses.
 

In the event there is an ‘overlap’ of crewmembers on board as those that are signing off are unable to be repatriated at the end of the contract due to various travel restrictions imposed to combat the spread of Covid-19, would such ‘duplicate’ wages be covered? 

As with question 7 above,  additional wages for duplicate crewmembers who had joined the vessel and where those they were replacing were unable to leave and had to extend their length of service on board, would not be covered under the vessel’s P&I cover unless the inability to leave the vessel was due to an outbreak of Covid-19 on board.
 

The Hague Visby Rules in Article IV (h) lists ‘quarantine’ restrictions as an excepted peril.  The carrier should therefore not be liable for any claim for the loss/damage to cargo since they should have the benefit of the Hague Visby Rules Article IV (h) defence. If the port is working slowly and there is congestion as a result of delays due to quarantine orders, the carrier should again be able to take advantage of Article IV (h).
 

In the event the vessel is unable to discharge at the intended port as the port is closed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 ashore, and the vessel deviates to a different port, any cargo claim may not be excluded from Club cover as the carrier maybe able to say this is a reasonable deviation, particularly for perishable cargo, and should have the benefit of the protection of Article IV Rule 4 of the Hague Visby Rules. However, if the vessel is going to deviate Members should check with the Managers for further advice on this and the interplay between their obligations under the bill of lading and any applicable charterparty. 
 

The Club has produced a comprehensive guide for Members on potential issues and a copy of which can be found here. 
 

Specific Port Requirements

View PDF - UAE - Federal Transport Authority
View PDF - UAE - Port of Fujariah
View PDF - Brazil - Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria
View PDF - Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka Ports Authority
View PDF - China - PICC
View PDF - Korea - Correspondent Report
View PDF - Singapore - MPA Singapore
View PDF - UAE - Government of Sharjah, Department of Seaports & Customs
View PDF - Pakistan - Government Port Health Establishment Circular
View PDF - Kuwait - Ministry of Communications Circular
View PDF - Malta - Ports and Yachting Directorate Transport Malta
View PDF - Kenya - Kenya Ports Authority
View PDF - Bangladesh - Chittagong Port Authority/Department of Shipping
View PDF - Bangladesh - Department of Naval Transport
View PDF - Bangladesh - Department of Shipping
View PDF - Kuwait - Team Leader Port operations Marine Operations Group
View PDF - Panaji - Government of Goa
View PDF - Kuwait - Ministry of Communications
View PDF - Chennai - Government of India
View PDF - Cochin - Government of India
View PDF - Mumbai - Government of India
View PDF - Kakinada - Port Health Organisation
View PDF - Kolkata - Kolkata Port Trust
View PDF - Krishnapatnam - Machilipatnam SOP
View PDF - Mangalore - Port Health Organisation
View PDF - Paradip - Paradip Port Trust
View PDF - Tuticorn - Government of India
View PDF - UAE - Federal Transport Authority
View PDF - Venezuala - Matheus & Ulloa
View PDF - Istanbul - Atlas P&I
View PDF - India - Port Health organisation
View PDF - China - Maritime Safety Administration
View PDF - Philippines - Department of Health & POEA
View here - Dakar Port - BUDD Group
View PDF - Cameroon (Port of Douala) - BUDD Group

COVID-19 Pilotage Protocols and Guidelines

Information from the International Marine Pilots’ Association about the impacts on pilotage in various countries.

Find here


Useful Links

CDC Webpage

Additional information can be found on the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention page.

Find here



BIMCO Diseases Clause

BIMCO Infectious or Contagious Diseases Clause for Voyage and Time Charter Parties.

Find here

WHO Coronavirus Webpage

Information on the virus can be found on the World Health Organisation page.

Find here



Coronavirus (nCoV) Infection Map

A Live map of individual Coronavirus cases by John Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

Find here

WHO & IMO Joint Statement

The WHO and IMO have issued a joint statement in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Find here


Coronavirus (nCoV) Port Restrictions Map

A global map of port restrictions following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Find here