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Advice, Loss Prevention

Zika Virus: South Korea requires self-disinfection certificates for vessels

Our correspondent in South Korea, Hyopsung Shipping Corporation, has provided us with information regarding the Zika virus.

Attached documents

Health-Questionnaire.pdf
Ship-Sanitation-Control-Inspection-Record.pdf
The Self disinfection certificate.pdf

Quote

As the Zika virus outbreak overseas remained a potential health risk, under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare declared Zika virus as a legal infectious disease on the 29th of January, 2016 in order to take active prevention measures.

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been developing preventative measures on their Zika virus prevention strategy and issued updated Zika Virus Prevention and Quarantine Guidelines on the 25th of February, 2016. Therefore, their affiliate Korea National Quarantine Station has sent notices to the shipowners and agents on the strengthening of quarantine inspections at Korean ports as follows.

40 Countries and territories where identified to be infected by Zika virus

Guyana, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Martinique, Mexico, Barbados, Venezuela, Brazil, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto to Rico, French Guiana, Guadeloupe Island, Nicaragua, Honduras, Tonga, American Samoa, Samoa,  Republic of Suriname, Marshall Islands, Cape Verde, Bonheur, Aruba, Sinteu Mareuten, Saint Vincent and Grendadines, Jamaica, Cuba, New Caledonia, Fiji, Curaçao, US Virgin Islands, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Trinidad Tobacco, Saint Martin,

2 countries in Asia where Zika virus infection cases are reported

Thailand and Philippines

When vessel is arriving to Korea from calling at affected countries

If vessel sailed from infected/outbreak countries (include transit) within 14 days from the date of arrival at Korean port, quarantine inspector will onboard and check crew members even though the vessel submitted self-disinfection certificate.

If vessel sailed from infected/outbreak countries (include transit) between 15 days and 30 days from the date of arrival at Korean port, quarantine inspector will not onboard and disinfection is considered to be completed by submitting self-disinfection certificate.

If vessel sailed from either Thailand or Philippines (include transit) within 30 days from the date of arrival at Korean port, quarantine inspector will not onboard and disinfection is considered to be completed by submitting self-disinfection certificate.

There is no need to issue relevant certificates from the concerned authorities in infected/outbreak countries, but vessel is to issue the certificates after carrying out insecticide work with applying the disinfectants contains “pyrethroid ingredient” recommended by the Korea National Quarantine Station. Currently local fumigation companies use delramethrine 2.5g as the disinfectants.  After carrying out insecticide work against vessel by crew members at least 1 hour earlier prior to departure from infected /outbreak countries, the master fills Certificate of Self-Disinfection (as per enclosed word file), Ship Sanitation Control Inspection Record and Health Questionnaire (if necessary) and submits the same to local quarantine officer through the ship’s agent at the time of inwards clearance formality in Korea.

Also, other highlighted points are as follows

If self-disinfection certificate is not submitted prior to arrival, vessel is ordered to carry out disinfection by a local fumigation company and vessel may be ordered restriction to movement.

Local fumigation company in Korea can eradicate (arrange through ships agent by order of local quarantine authorities) vessel prior to commence load/discharge (about 2 hours will be required for eradication under crew members staying onboard the vessel). Cargo operation can be started after completion of the disinfection. If there is any mosquito, larvae or mosquito eggs found during the onboard quarantine inspection, vessel is to carry out disinfection by local fumigation company.

Unquote


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