***Crews calling in west Africa face ebola risk, shipping groups warn

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Ship operators have been advised to avoid making crew changes in the ports of counties affected by ebola. © AP Photo

Masters should consider shore leave restrictions, argues ICS, IMEC and ITF

VESSELS calling in west African countries hit by the outbreak of ebola should consider restricting shore leave and strictly enforce existing security requirements banning unauthorised persons from boarding, three leading shipping organisations have warned.

A joint statement from the International Chamber of Shipping, International Maritime Employers’ Council and the International Transport Workers’ Federation urged masters to ensure that the crew are aware of the appropriate means of reducing risk.

Operators should avoid making crew changes in the ports of an affected country, and crews need to be aware of ebola symptoms and report them promptly to the person in charge of medical care should they occur.

A spokesperson for the three organisations commented: “Everyone is deeply concerned for those suffering from the ebola epidemic and supportive of a coordinated world response to help them.

“In the meantime we want to make sure that those in the world shipping industry play our part in ensuring the safety of crews visiting the affected countries, and minimising the risk of the virus spreading further.”

FROM MARINE LINK:

***Shipping Bodies Issue Ebola Virus Advice

By Eric Haun

Monday, August 04, 2014, 9:39 AM

Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Three global shipping organizations today issued guidance to their members on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus.

The ICS (International Chamber of Shipping), IMEC (International Maritime Employers’ Council) and the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) urgently advise that on all such vessels:
1. The Master should ensure that the crew is aware of the risks, how the virus can be spread and how to reduce the risk.
2. The ISPS requirements on ensuring that unauthorized personnel do not board the vessel should be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the vessel being in port.
3. The Master should give careful consideration to granting any shore leave whilst in impacted ports.
4. The shipowner/operator should avoid making crew changes in the ports of an affected country.
5. After departure the crew should be aware of the symptoms and report any occurring symptoms immediately to the person in charge of medical care.

The advice is supplemented with information from the World Health Organization on the virus (available here www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en)

A spokesperson for the three organizations commented, “Everyone is deeply concerned for those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and supportive of a coordinated world response to help them. We particularly applaud all those medical staff who are risking their lives to help. In the meantime we want to make sure that those in the world shipping industry play our part in ensuring the safety of crews visiting the affected countries, and minimizing the risk of the virus spreading further.”

ics-shipping.org

imec.org.uk

itfglobal.org

FROM SEATRADE, ALSO SHIPPING WATCH:

***Shipping and union groups issue urgent ebola advice

By Gary Howard from London

The ICS (International Chamber of Shipping), IMEC (International Maritime Employers' Council), and the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) have issued joint advice to members on Ebola following the ongoing outbreak in West Africa.

The groups have issued strong recommendations to all vessels calling at countries affected by the recent outbreak. The advice includes ensuring crew are aware of the risk of ebola and the ways it can be transferred, adhering to ISPS requirements to safeguard against unauthorised personnel boarding the vessel, giving careful consideration before granting shore leave in affected countries, avoiding making crew transfers in affected countries and monitoring crew for symptoms after departing affected areas.

The recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has killed at least 800 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and has a current mortality rate of around 55%. The disease presents with flu-like symptoms which can develop into internal and external bleeding, including from the eyes, nose and gums.

The virus that causes the disease is spread by contact with the bodily fluids, has an incubation period up of two to 21 days and is believed to be initially transferred from fruit bats.

There is no vaccine or cure for the disease, supportive care is all the can be offered, the most crucial of which is keeping victims hydrated.

A spokesperson for the three organisations commented: "Everyone is deeply concerned for those suffering from the Ebola epidemic and supportive of a coordinated world response to help them. We particularly applaud all those medical staff who are risking their lives to help. In the meantime we want to make sure that those in the world shipping industry play our part in ensuring the safety of crews visiting the affected countries, and minimising the risk of the virus spreading further."