By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MARCH 24, 2020: THERE is no impact of COVID-19 on cargo vessels. However, as per the directions of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, International cruise vessels arriving from foreign destinations are not allowed to call Indian Ports till March 31, 2020.

Ministry of Shipping has issued necessary directions from time to time  to all ports to put in place a screening, detection and quarantine system for disembarking Seafarer or cruise passengers, to obtain self declaration from arriving crews/passengers, to install thermal scanners and procure Personal Protection Equipment readiness,N-95 masks, create awareness among the travelers at Ports and Port officials. Further, Major ports under the administrative control of Ministry of Shipping have taken several steps like formation of SoP for disease surveillance/Vessel and crew/passenger management, thermal scanning while moving outside port prohibited area, isolation wards at port hospitals, IEC activities through electronic/print media/LED display boards of port trust and display in port hospital. 

Status of the vessels arriving at Ports and screening of the crew members/passengers as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in prescribed format is being collected and uploaded daily on e-samiksha portal of Cabinet Secretariat. The developments are also being monitored in the Ministry on daily basis. As on date 18.3.2020, 25394 passengers/crew in 559 vessels were scanned. Port hospitals have been kept in a state of readiness with isolation ward.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Shipping, Mr Mansukh Mandaviya, in the Rajya Sabha yesterday in a written reply.