15 Aug 2014
Port authorities fear the Ebola outbreak could reach Abidjan
The African ports of Abidjan and San Pedro in Ivory Coast are thought to be the first to deny entry to vessels arriving from a country which is experiencing an outbreak of Ebola.
With the virus disease spreading fast, Port autonome d’Abidjan (PAA) has made the decision to turn vessels away until further notice, and nearby San Pedro has now followed suit.
In addition, PAA is asking that any vessel which has an ill person onboard, particularly if the symptoms are similar to those caused by Ebola, should report so to the port authorities, regardless of whether the vessel came from a port in a country suffering an outbreak or not.
Vessels that report any incident to the port authorities may be subjected to up to 21 days quarantine.
At San Pedro, vessels are being asked to disclose a report of their latest sanitary control and photocopies of on the onboard medical consults registry for the past 20 days prior to arrival. Once at berth, representatives of the port’s health authorities will perform a systematic medical screening of the crew, and in case of suspicions, the yellow flag must remain visible and no one will be allowed in or out of the ship.
Marine insurance companies The Swedish Club and Skuld have released details of the changes on their website and are urging members to contact them should any Ebola-related issues occur onboard.
Members due to call at West Africa are also urged to advise their chartering teams so they can avoid a fixture which would see a vessel call at a port in a country with Ebola first, and subsequently call at Abidjan.
Will other African ports follow suit?
http://www.portstrategy.com/news101/world/africa/ebola-epidemic-halts-ivory-coast-callsIn addition, PAA is asking that any vessel which has an ill person onboard, particularly if the symptoms are similar to those caused by Ebola, should report so to the port authorities, regardless of whether the vessel came from a port in a country suffering an outbreak or not.
Vessels that report any incident to the port authorities may be subjected to up to 21 days quarantine.
At San Pedro, vessels are being asked to disclose a report of their latest sanitary control and photocopies of on the onboard medical consults registry for the past 20 days prior to arrival. Once at berth, representatives of the port’s health authorities will perform a systematic medical screening of the crew, and in case of suspicions, the yellow flag must remain visible and no one will be allowed in or out of the ship.
Marine insurance companies The Swedish Club and Skuld have released details of the changes on their website and are urging members to contact them should any Ebola-related issues occur onboard.
Members due to call at West Africa are also urged to advise their chartering teams so they can avoid a fixture which would see a vessel call at a port in a country with Ebola first, and subsequently call at Abidjan.
Will other African ports follow suit?
