Circular No. 4204/Add.28 WHO guidance to promote public health measures on cargo ships and fishing vessels.
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 | Facsimile: +44(0)20 7587 3210
Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – WHO guidance to promote public health measures on cargo ships and fishing vessels.
The Secretary-General of the IMO has received the interim guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote public health measures in response to COVID-19 on cargo ships and fishing vessels. This document was developed with input from key organizations such as IMO, ILO, ICS, IAPH, INTERTANKO, IMHA, ITF, the WHO Collaborating Centre for the International Health Regulations (University of Thessaly), Europêche, and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations.
Interim Guidance (25 August 2020)
The guidance is intended for shipowners, seafarers, unions, and competent authorities to protect crew against SARS-CoV-2 and manage cases on board.
Pre-boarding
Pre-boarding screening is recommended to identify symptoms or exposures. This may include self-declarations, visual examination, or temperature checks. The questionnaire should assess:
- Presence of fever, (>38°C), cough or breathing difficulties in the last 14 days.
- Contact with individuals with COVID-19 in the last 14 days (more than 15 minutes at less than one meter or direct care without protective equipment).
On board: Preventive Measures
A risk analysis must be conducted by dividing the ship into zones (contaminated, exclusive crew interaction, interaction with shore personnel, and no-interaction zones).
Recommendations on the use of masks (Table 1)
| Zone | Recomeendation |
|---|---|
| i) Potentially contaminated zones (isolation) | Mandatory use of medical masks. |
| ii) Crew-only zones | Possibility of using fabric masks if a distance of 1 meter cannot be maintained. |
| iii) Zones with crew/shore interaction | Possibility of using fabric masks if a 1-meter distance cannot be maintained. |
| iv) Zones with no interaction | Use of masks is not necessary. |
Management of suspected cases
The process includes: screening and monitoring, isolating suspected cases, implementing infection prevention and control measures, assessing severity and risk factors, and determining whether the case can be treated on board or requires medical evacuation.
Risk factors include: age over 60, chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, etc.), and smoking.
Mental health and psychosocial support
The pandemic has exacerbated stress levels. The use of telemedicine services, remote psychosocial support, and mental wellness guides (such as those published by the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network and the International Chamber of Shipping) is promoted.
