Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 cases on commercial leisure boats after the lifting of the restrictive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic

 

1. Scope

The instructions concern the professional pleasure boats that are located in the Greek Territory and are active within it. The guidelines do not apply to professional tourist ships entering from abroad, including cruise ships.

Greece is currently offering a safe tourist destination and the resumption of marine operations is considered important for the economy. However, it is considered necessary to implement the measures described in the following guidelines for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 infection.

The following guidelines have been developed taking into account the scientific data on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (transmission from person to person through droplets or by contact) and are based on guidelines from the World Health Organization, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Joint Action EU HEALTHY GATEWAYS.

 

2. General recommendations

It is recommended that the tourist public using commercial leisure boats avoid remote destinations where it will be difficult to seek medical help if needed. This is especially true for vulnerable groups as defined by the Ministry of Health. It is also recommended to avoid destinations in remote areas where there are no organized healthcare facilities.

 

3. Determining the maximum number of passengers

The maximum number of passengers allowed on commercial leisure yachts is:

(a) in the case of a yacht carrying up to twelve (12) passengers, no change shall take place.

(b) in the case of a yacht carrying more than twelve (12) passengers, then the carrying capacity of each time exceeding twelve (12) passengers shall be reduced by half and shall be added to that of the twelve (12) passengers. If this reduction does not result in an integer, it is rounded to the next.

The above limits are observed throughout the trip as well as during the mooring.

Similarly, the above limits are valid until June 15, 2020, where the implementation of the measure and the epidemiological situation will be re-evaluated and possibly revised.

 

4. Passenger registration book and health status

In each commercial leisure yacht, the condition of passengers and crew is observed in accordance with the provisions of Law 4256/2014 (A ’92), which also contains a contact telephone number accessible for the next 14 days. The status of passengers will be available for inspection by the port and health authorities in electronic or printed form.

Each person such as passenger, visitor, technician, etc., fills in, before boarding the yacht, the form of Annex 1 for the detection of persons exposed to COVID-19, which will be delivered to the Captain upon boarding. The Captain will receive the completed forms and evaluate them. In case of detection of persons who have been exposed to COVID-19 in any of the ways described in the Annex 1 form in the last 14 days, boarding will not be permitted.

The crew members must at all times immediately inform the Master / Governor or the shipowner / shipowner in the event of a positive response to at least one of the questions in Annex 1.

The questionnaire will be kept by the shipowners or shipowners for two months from the date of receipt, in accordance with the legislation on personal data protection.

In addition, for one-week trips and a number of passengers (except the crew) ≥15 it is recommended that a molecular test be performed 48 hours before boarding.

Regarding the crew, it is recommended that a molecular test be performed during the first tasking of the crew. In addition, each yacht will have a book monitoring the health status of the passengers. Crew members and passengers should measure their body temperature once a day, which will be recorded in the occupant’s health monitoring book. The book will be available for inspection by the port and health authorities in electronic or printed form.

If one of the occupants develops symptoms of COVID-19 infection (sudden onset of the disease, with at least one of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath), then this should be recorded in the health monitoring book of the occupants and should be activated. the plan for the management of a suspected COVID-19 case.

 

5. Report of a suspected COVID-19 case to the competent authority

According to the International Hygiene Regulations (DYK 2005), the Captain of the boat must immediately notify the competent authority of the next port, before his arrival, of any danger to public health on board, including any case of illness for which there is suspected to be contagious. This information is provided by completing and submitting electronically or by any other appropriate means the Maritime Declaration of Health (MDH).

The Captain shall also inform the competent authority of the port of the number of passengers (crew and passengers). The Captain should be aware of the principle of reporting any suspected case of infectious disease or any other risk to public health on board. If a person on board (crew member or passenger) has symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection (including the sudden onset of at least one of the following: cough, fever or shortness of breath), this should be reported immediately to the competent authority. ways mentioned above. Immediate notification to the competent health authorities is important to determine if the port is capable of transporting, isolating, laboratory diagnosing and caring for the suspected COVID-19 case. The boat may be called to sail to another port if the necessary port capacity is not available, or if it is justified by the medical condition suspected of COVID-19. It is important that all arrangements are made as soon as possible to minimize the possibility of suspicious incidents on board the boat.

 

6. Adequacy and proper use of personal protective equipment

There should be sufficient amounts of antiseptics, disinfectants, personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies. The first aid kit should have a digital infrared thermometer and a finger finger pulse oximeter.

There should be written instructions for the proper use of personal protective equipment and the crew of the ships should be aware of their use.

Information on personal protective equipment for crew members, depending on their duties on board and their proper use is available in English from the European Joint Action HEALTHY GATEWAYS.

 

7. Recommendations for crew and passengers

Visitors and crews on board

Visits to the boat should be avoided and any kind of gathering that exceeds the maximum number of people inside the ship as specified in paragraph 3. If external crews enter the boat, the distance of 1.5 meters should be observed and it is recommended. the use of a mask (eg fabric) both by the members of the external workshop and by the occupants during the stay of the members of the external workshop on the boat. Also, the boat’s sanitary facilities should not be used by external workshops.

Use of personal protective equipment

When visiting sheltered land facilities, the use of a mask (eg fabric) is recommended.

It is recommended to use gloves when refueling, tying, as well as other procedures that need to be touched on equipment surfaces used by many people and there is no short-term installation for hand washing or a station with antiseptics. The placement and removal of the gloves will be done according to the instructions for their correct application. It is emphasized that the use of gloves does not replace hand washing, before and after removing the gloves, hand hygiene should be applied with soap and water or antiseptic.

Personal hygiene

Hand sanitizer with soap and water should be applied. If the hands are not visibly soiled, 70% alcohol-based alcohol-based antiseptic solution may be used. It is emphasized that the use of gloves does not replace hand washing, before and after removing the gloves, hand hygiene should be applied with soap and water or antiseptic.

There should be antiseptic stations at the entrance to the boat’s indoor spaces.

Proper respiratory hygiene should be followed, that is, covering the mouth and nose with a tissue in the case of coughing and coughing and then throwing it in a plastic bag and applying antiseptic to the hands. For this purpose, care must be taken for the corresponding equipment (tissues or paper towels, disposable gloves, plastic bag, etc.).

Touching the face, nose and eyes should be avoided.

Social distance

When visiting indoor and outdoor outdoor areas on land, it is recommended that the social distance of 1.5 meters between individuals and the use of the mask (eg fabric) be maintained.

 

8. Information and training of crew and passengers

The crew must be informed and trained according to their duties as follows: in the plan for the management of a suspected COVID-19 incident, in the use of personal protective equipment, in the application of personal hygiene and social distance, as well as in the other special regulations of ports of destination for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

In particular, the information and training concerns:

–        The fact that they should not travel if they have been in contact with a COVID-19 patient in the last 14 days before the trip.

–        Hand washing techniques (frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, the use of gloves does not replace hand hygiene).

–        After which activities should the hands be washed e.g. hands should be washed after each contact with another person or his respiratory secretions (saliva, droplets), with objects touched by other people such as handrails, handles, etc., before placing the mask, before and after removing the mask, before and after removing the gloves, after using the toilet, before eating, before touching the face, etc. In which cases it is recommended to use antiseptics instead of hand washing (eg if the hands are not visibly soiled, an alternative alcoholic solution may be used).

In the meticulous observance of hygiene measures, and specifically: avoid contact of the hands with the mouth, nose or eyes.

–        Avoid contact with patients who have respiratory symptoms.

–        Appropriate waste management.

–        Proper use of personal protective equipment (mask and gloves).

The crew and passengers should be trained to report the relevant symptoms of COVID-19 infection to the Captain immediately.

 

9. During the boarding and during the trip, passengers will be provided with information (eg with brochures, newsletters, audio messages, etc.) about the symptoms of the infection and the preventive measures for passengers and staff and instructions. to immediately report symptoms to the crew if they occur during the trip. Ventilation and air conditioning

It is recommended to ventilate the premises as much as possible. In addition, and where applicable, the provisions of the relevant circular of the Ministry of Health “Obtaining measures to ensure public health from viral and other infections during the use of air conditioning units” apply, with emphasis on non-recirculation of air. After the cleaning of the boat, three hours of ventilation of the spaces before the entry of new passengers.

 

10. Cleanliness and disinfection of premises

During the charter, the Captain of the boat as well as its crew take care of the frequent cleaning of the boat with detergents and disinfectants, with diligence and special emphasis on surfaces that are often touched, such as handles, handrails, etc., as well as on bathrooms.

Disinfection of the boat will be carried out after the end of the charter of the boat and before the start of the new one.

 

11. Avoid physical transactions

It is recommended that e-commerce, orders, purchases of services and goods, equipment, and telephone communication be preferred as much as possible.