Changes to seafarer crew change in Hong Kong

Hong Kong authorities had recently announced tightening measures for seafarers and cargo vessels entering into Hong Kong.

For goods vessels which have called at the ports of any places outside China during the 21 days prior to arrival in Hong Kong, but have not stayed in Group A specified places, those signing-off seafarers for crew change purposes must possess a negative SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test result done at an ISO15189-accredited laboratory or a laboratory recognised by the Government within 72 hours prior to the vessel’s scheduled time of arrival in Hong Kong.

Alternatively, the shipping companies/agents should arrange the signing-off seafarers to take a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test by one of the recognised testing institutions in Hong Kong, and these crew members will need to stay on board until their negative results are available.

If the seafarers are Hong Kong residents and will stay in Hong Kong after signing off, they must also use the point-to-point transport to travel to designated quarantine hotels from designated pick-up points, and undergo 21-day compulsory quarantine as with other inbound travellers.

More information can be found on the Government of Hong Kong's website. 

Flying to Hong Kong

Further to above, sometime during the third week of January 2021, the Marine Department of Hong Kong had prohibited vessels and personnel whom have stayed in Brazil, Ireland, South Africa or the United Kingdom for more than two hours in the 21 days before boarding,  from boarding a flight to Hong Kong. The full text from is available from the Marine Department of Hong Kong.