What measures are taken and might be taken concerning ports, vessels and cargo?

What measures are taken and might be taken concerning ports, vessels and cargo? 

In this article, we will try to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 Epidemic on marine trade by searching the responses of the following questions: What measures are taken and might be taken concerning ports, vessels and cargo? 

 Port Measures on COVID-19

As it is known, ports are facilities of loading and unloading of passenger and cargo from sea vehicles such as ships and boats, which usually accommodate cranes, road and rail connections by acting as a protective shelter for vessels from wind and waves. Failures occurred in ports may affect all transportation as well as the subsequent and related trade. In order to prevent these impacts on the ports in Turkey, various measures have been taken and will continue to be taken by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Ministry of Health and the relevant local authorities and administrations. Such measures can be as follows:

• Foreign crew embarkation/disembarkation operations during the transit or uninterrupted passages through the Turkish Straits of the vessels that have visited the ports of the prohibited countries within the last 14 days or having a crew member or a passenger that joined the vessel from these countries, with an exception for illness and death
• Vessels that have visited the ports of the prohibited countries within the last 14 days or having a crew member or a passenger that attended on the vessel from these countries shall apply 14 days of quarantine and shall anchor outside the port area. The permission to berth shall be granted after the completion of the necessary inspections on the vessel, cargo and crew at the end of the 14-days quarantine period. It is important to note that the 14-days quarantine period is not a definite time period and it can be shortened or extended depending on the status of the port and the vessel.
• An amendment foreseen in the Port State Control1 percentage that is to be maintained in the Turkish Republic controlled ports and a new rate of 15% is to be applied for 3 months from the date of the Circular (17.03.2020)
• For vessels that called China, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Iraq and Iran and other prohibited countries in the last 14 days, no disembarkation is allowed at Turkish Ports for the crew. Having said that supply of provision, bunker and technical equipment are allowed to those vessel that called the prohibited countries.
• In order to achieve minimum contact with the Agency personnel, the documents and certificates produced by the Agency for entry to and departure from ports and shipyards shall be archived by the Agent, in place of Harbour Masters, and will be presented upon request for inspection and investigation.
• Notifications of all national and foreign flagged vessels returning from an international voyage shall be made through the Port Single Window System 48 hours prior to entering the port area (instead of 24 hours)