Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 13, 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada advised Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside Canada. As of March 25, 2020, all persons entering Canada—whether by air, sea or land— are required to isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or to quarantine (self-isolate) themselves for 14 days if they are asymptomatic in order to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19.
Transport Canada is implementing several measures to ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew onboard vessels in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective March 13, 2020, the Government of Canada announced that it would defer the start of the cruise ship season in Canada from April 2 to July 1, 2020, at the earliest. This deferral applies to cruise ships capable of carrying more than 500 passengers and crew members. Given the limited public health capacity in Canada’s northern communities, that announcement also signaled the Government of Canada’s intent to defer the cruise ship season for vessels in the Canadian Arctic for the entire season in 2020.
Commercial passenger vessels and ferries represent a higher risk for viral transmission of infectious respiratory diseases like COVID-19. Close proximity and frequent interactions among passengers and crew could pose a significant safety risk to travellers, crew, and the Canadian population. As a result, Transport Canada is introducing additional safety measures to help mitigate these risks.
The Minister of Transport issued an Interim Order on April 5, 2020, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on-board commercial passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers.
As of April 6, 2020, the following new measures are being implemented:
All commercial passenger vessels with a capacity of more than 12 passengers are prohibited from operating for non-essential purposes, such as tourism or recreational activities (e.g. day tours, whale watching, or sightseeing). These measures remain in place until June 30 at the earliest.
Given the vulnerabilities of Canada’s North, the measures would prevent any Canadian non-essential, commercial passenger vessels, such as cruise ships with a capacity of more than 12 passengers, from mooring, navigating, or transiting in Canadian Arctic waters (including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador Coast). Should any foreign passenger vessel seek to enter Arctic waters, they would need to give the Minister of Transport 60 days’ notice and be subject to conditions to ensure the safety of the voyage and protection of marine personnel and of local communities. These measures will remain in place until October 31, 2020.
Transport Canada has engaged with Indigenous organizations and communities that may be impacted by these temporary measures. Officials have also reached out to the Canadian Passenger Vessel Associations, Passenger and Commercial Vessel Association, and Canadian Ferry Association to inform them and receive their feedback.
Enforcement actions for failing to abide by these new measures could include administrative monetary penalties of up to $5,000 per day for an individual and $25,000 per day for a vessel or corporation, as well as criminal sanctions, which include up to $1 million in fines and/or up to 18 months’ imprisonment.
Operators must:
Also, in order to reduce the spread of the virus, operators of ferries and essential commercial passenger vessels are encouraged to implement enhanced measures to protect staff and passengers. Examples include:
A commercial passenger vessel is any vessel that carries at least one person who is paying for a trip on that vessel. Examples include sightseeing, water taxis, ferries, and harbour cruises.
A commercial passenger vessel is considered to be essential when:
Ferries would be considered part of essential passenger vessels and must implement increased hygiene practices and are encouraged to adopt pre-boarding health screening as outlined in Transport Canada issued guidelines.
Additional enhanced hygiene and other onboard practices to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 include:
Ferry operators, personnel, and passengers are encouraged to adopt proactive hygiene habits such as frequent handwashing, coughing into their elbow or using tissue, and engaging in practices to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks.
These measures apply to all of Canada’s coastal and inland waters such as lakes, rivers and inlets, including the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and Canada’s Arctic waters.
Reference: tc.gc.ca
Source: Maritime Shipping News