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  • The coronavirus has impacted port operations across the globe, but many of the restrictions seem to be stabilising.
  • Most ports are operational for cargo business and have closed or restricted operations for passenger vessels.
  • Even if cargo operations continue to function normally, governments and port authorities have introduced safety regulations and restrictions related to the movement of ship crews, truck drivers and other people needing access to port facilities.

The Global Logistics Tracker

  • This new interactive map allows you receive information on the restrictions countries are currently facing due to the coronavirus. 
  • It will be updated on a weekly basis to coincide with this update and help you visualise the logistical situation globally. 
  • To try it out now, simply follow this link.

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Country Updates 

Albania

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Albanian anchorage is suspended for cruise and passenger vessels until further notice.
  • No Cargo Transfer Manifest (CTM) will be granted due to bank closures.

Algeria

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Algerian borders are still closed.
  • No ports have closed yet, but vessels coming from Italy might be detained on anchorage for 14 days prior to berthing.
  • The health authorities board the vessel at anchor to check the crew.
  • At Djendjen Port, vessel disinfection is carried out before berthing.

Angola

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Cargo vessels are still allowed upon clearance before berthing operations.
  • All trade vessels calling at local ports must submit a list of their previous 10 ports of call, as well as a full crew list and an MDOH.

Argentina 

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes 

  • All vessels must present mandatory documents 72 hours before their arrival at Recalada Pilot Station.
  • Vessels coming from any of the affected areas (including Brazil and Chile) within the latest 14 days, must send copies of the Medical Record on board to the health authority when requesting the Free Pratique.

Australia

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes 

  • All non-Australian flagged cruise ships currently in Australia must depart Australian waters as soon is reasonably practicable, unless the Government has granted the ship permission to stay in Australia.
    • Re-provision of essential supplies (e.g., fuel, food, supplies) will be permitted to facilitate departure.
  • Non-essential vessels entering Queensland from interstate by sea will be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon entry. Their self-isolation must be registered with Queensland Health.

Bahrain

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • No vessel will be granted entry to Bahrain’s territorial water unless the necessary documents are fully received 72 hours prior the vessel’s arrival.

Belgium

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • The Port of Antwerp is fully operational; this port remains key for Belgium and Europe’s supply chain.

Brazil 

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • No new cruise ships will be accepted until the Plan of Response to the Public Health Emergencies (ESPIN) is in force. 
  • Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is working to get authorization for “humanitarian” calls for some cruise lines not authorized to call at other South American ports. 
  • If any cases are confirmed, 14 days of quarantine is compulsory.
  • No ports are closed at present.

Cape Verde

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Vessels are being isolated.
  • All cargo operations are being carried out almost as normal, but no contact is allowed between the crews and stevedores.
  • Authorities are not visiting vessels; all paperwork is done electronically.

China

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • If a vessel calls at any foreign port, Hong Kong or Taiwan within 14 days of their arrival at Yangtze river ports, they will have to use a specialised pilot. The specialised pilots are limited, so it is possible the POB schedule at CJK will be delayed for around one to two days.
  • All other ports remain fully operational and no delays are expected.
  • The loading and discharging operations are slower due to the lack of stevedores. Affected ports include Shanghai, Tianjin, Huangpu, Lianyungang, Jing tang and Caofeidian.

Colombia

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Expected Closures: Yes

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Colombia has been in quarantine since the 25th March 2020, and this has now been extended to the 1st July 2020.
  • Despite this, port staff will be able to travel in order to continue shipping operations.

Djibouti

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Free Pratique has been granted, subject to 72 hours of arrival notice.
  • Entry to oil terminals has been suspended for all agents since the 25th March.
  • There aren’t many problems surrounding congestion for RORO and other GC as uplift is in progress.

Egypt

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Marine port authorities have requested that all agents report if any vessels are expected to arrive from China, USA, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and any other country where the virus was detected.
  • They must also apply for the vessel berthing at least four days ahead of arrival, so any special quarantine arrangements are being made for clearing the vessel at anchorage, prior to allowing it to proceed to berth. 

France

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Most ports have decided to reduce the size of their teams.
  • Service is still in force but it is impossible to berth, sail or anchor between 2300hrs and 0500hrs.
  • Vessels can berth as normal if no on-board cases have been declared by the vessel’s master.

Germany

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes 

  • There are currently delays at ports.
  • Hamburg is no longer allowing embarkation or disembarkation of vessels from shore side.
  • Only persons who are directly involved in cargo operations, such as surveyors, loading masters and terminal workers, are permitted to embark and disembark.

Ghana

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Vessels calling at the Ghana Petroleum Mooring System (GPMS) offshore terminal must submit a pre-arrival notice and a series of health declarations.

India

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Operational delays, labour shortages and logistical constraints can be expected.
  • Under article 12, ships coming from infected countries are required to comply with conditions of Annex I, and if those conditions cannot be met, then under article 16 the PHO should impose a 14-day quarantine. 
  • All ports are open and operational with limited resource.  Except Port Redi   who is not accepting vessels. Karwar port resumed operations.  No port locations has reported to any operational issues to LNG / Tanker vessels.

Ireland

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Expected Closures: No
Expected Delays: No

  • There are no restrictions on cargo vessels trading in and out of Ireland.
  • The only requirement is that vessels submit an MDOH 24 hours prior to their arrival, showing that all crew members are healthy.
  • No vessels are being placed in quarantine, regardless of previous port of call and all ports remain operational.

Italy

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Expected Closures: No
Expected Delays: No

  • Commercial cargo operations in all Italian ports will continue as normal without impact on terminal operations, customs, and warehousing and transport services.

Kenya

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • No Kenyan ports have been closed yet.
  • Delays of 24-48 hours are to be expected, however.

Kuwait

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Expect Closures: No

Expect Delays: Yes

  • Vessels have to wait approximately one to two days at anchorages.
  • They also have to anchor at Out of Port Limits (OPL).
  • The waiting time for berthing is around five to seven days, due to ongoing congestion at Shuaiba Port. 

Libya

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • A 14-day quarantine is compulsory at all Libyan ports.
  • Ministry of Health representatives will visit ships and make any necessary disclosures for the Coronavirus. 

Madagascar

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Tana and Toamasina have a curfew between 2000-0500hrs.
  • Arriving vessels no longer have to quarantine for 14 days. However, all communications and the exchange of documents is still being done by email.
  • No agent nor boarding authorities allowed to go on board. Several other port operational restrictions are in place. 

Malaysia

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • As of the 25th March, Teluk Rubiah Marine Terminal halted operations until further notice, due to staff safety concerns.
  • Other ports are still operating as normal, with approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of delay, due the Port Health Inspection.

Mauritius

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • At Port Louis, a protocol to service vessels that have sailed less than 14 days from the last port of call has been finalised with the Health Authorities.
  • Since 20th March, stevedores handling bulk and conventional cargoes are working up to 2100 hours.

Mozambique

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Vessels coming to Maputo must send the following documents to the agent ahead of their arrival; these will be forwarded to all authorities.
  • They must state their last 10 ports of call, provide a full crew list with all details (including their last port of embarkation), a declaration of crew health on board and/or an MDOH.

Netherlands

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Vessels calling at Dutch ports must submit an MDOH prior to their arrival.
  • Dutch Ports also have several vital functions that needs to be protected, like the production of energy, the processing of waste, and the supplying of drinking water. 

Portugal

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • At Leixoes Port, all manoeuvres are suspended between 00h00 and 06h00 due to the contingency plans that are in place.
  • At Aveiro Port, only two vessels for each Stevedoring company can perform works at the same time; this could cause some delays on discharging operations.
  • In Madeira, Funchal Port is closed. Caniçal and Porto Santo remain open for commercial calls.
  • Generally, all terminals are facing lack of personnel.
  • Social distancing between staff may cause delays.

Singapore

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Singapore’s shipyards and marine industries look set to suspend work for a month as the Government closes all workplaces, except for those in essential services and key economic sectors, to close in the fight against COVID-19.
  • The measures are to take effect from next Tuesday (7th April) and be in place for one month until 4th May.

Spain

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Spanish ports remain open, but they are facing restrictions.

Tanzania

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No

  • Vessels must send a crew list, a port of call list, the MDOH and any information for a sick crew member at least 48 hours ahead of their arrival.
  • Free Practique is issued after Port Health inspections have been carried out.
  • Vessels arriving from affected countries will be quarantined for 14 days if the transit time is less than 14 days.

Thailand

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Passenger vessels and other vessel types are not allowed to enter Thai waters in most circumstances now.
  • Vessels carrying key cargoes are still able to call at Thailand, but a prompt departure is required after the mission is completed.
  • They must also enter Thailand with a strict schedule of when they intend to depart. 

Turkey

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • Ships that have called at an infected country over the last 14 days must provide a full list of the crews’ body temperatures.
  • This list must be provided at least three days ahead of arrival.
  • Vessels that have come from infected countries must also be inspected by the Health Authorities before pilots can board.
  • They must ensure the bridge is disinfected before the pilots board as well.

United Arab Emirates

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: Yes

  • We have received notification that vessels arriving from Iran will not be permitted to enter any UAE ports.
  • The feeders’ services within the region have not been affected, however, rates have been impacted with equipment imbalance surcharges impacting certain trade lanes. 
  • Shipping lines are currently only working on spot or FAK rates.
  • The Port and Customs Authorities continue to work as normal, so the flow of cargo has not yet been affected.

USA

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Expected Closures: No

Expected Delays: No 

  • The Port of New York and New Jersey’s response to COVID-19 went beyond just its physical footprint. They worked with neighbouring States to ensure clear communication between essential services, warehouses and disturction sentences.
  • All 10 of the busiest US cargo ports registered declines in container volumes in early 2020, with only modest improvement forecasted for the second half of the year due to a muted peak season.
  • Officials at the Port of New York and New Jersey say they don’t expect marine terminals and area warehouses to experience as much of a space crunch as they and the other East Coast ports were anticipating, as cargo from China increases over the coming weeks.