AMO working with federal agencies, employer companies to contain COVID-19 infection on all vessels in international and domestic trade

AMO officials are working daily with the U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, the Maritime Administration, AMO Plans and all deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters employers to limit the impact of the growing COVID-19 crisis at sea and ashore.

Ships arriving in the U.S. from overseas are subject upon arrival to quarantine lasting between 14 and 24 days. Some crew rotations and shore leave in the U.S. and abroad have already been suspended indefinitely, and comparable restrictions are anticipated throughout the industry. Travel to and from many ports in the U.S. may be curtailed, and individuals returning to the U.S. are subject to health screening and possible quarantine.

Under a policy clarification from the White House, U.S. citizens will be permitted to return to the U.S. from Europe, but all flights will be routed only through 13 U.S. airports - Boston-Logan, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Detroit Metropolitan, Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, JFK International New York, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Newark Liberty International, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International and Washington-Dulles International.

All arriving passengers will be subject to health screenings at these airports.

The Coast Guard on March 13 directed that all ships underway and en route to the United States - regardless of registry - report any illness among the officers and crews to the Captain of the Port, especially if symptoms indicate or suggest exposure to coronavirus - fever, persistent cough, skin rash, confusion, headache, prolonged vomiting and difficulty breathing within two-to-14 days of possible exposure.

The Coast Guard also directed ships approaching the United States to notify the Centers for Disease Control of any illness among the officers and crews 15 days prior to scheduled arrival in U.S. waters.

The Coast Guard further directed Captains of all U.S.-bound ships to report any shipboard illness before departing overseas ports.

"Reporting delays create significant challenges to protect persons on board vessels and, more broadly, maintain an effective Marine Transportation System," a Coast Guard statement said. "Vessels or Masters that do not immediately report illness or death among passengers or crew may face delays and disruption to passenger cargo operations, including a requirement to return to the previous port. Additionally, vessels and Masters are subject to Coast Guard enforcement action, which include civil penalties, vessel detentions and criminal liability."

Military Sealift Command said its priority is "to preserve the health of the force while continuing to man, train, equip and operate."

The MSC statement "strongly encouraged" all MSC personnel and private sector mariners aboard vessels under MSC charter and aboard Ready Reserve Force ships managed by the private sector for MARAD to "seek early medical attention if they are experiencing any symptoms that might be linked to COVID-19 - if you do not feel good, go to the doctor."

More specific measures applied by MSC include:

• Travel restrictions based on "warnings, alerts and advisories" from the Departments of State and Defense. "Within MSC, only the commander, MSC, or an MSC Area Commander can determine to restrict travel to a greater degree than already restricted by DOS or DOD."
• "Mission Essential Travel" uninterrupted "to the greatest extent possible." MSC personnel "will raise any concerns regarding mission essential travel to their supervisor."
• Leave policy "managed by supervisors and informed by travel restrictions implemented by DOS and DOD."
• Mariners accept all risk if leave includes travel to a restricted area, and leave can be denied "based on potential mission requirements."
• Continued "maintenance" and "overhauls" to continue "to the greatest extent possible" during the health emergency, but no inspections, certifications or training in ports affected by COVID-19.
• Companies operating ships for Military Sealift Command and/or ships in the Ready Reserve Force are bound by MSC "response policies." MSC said "contracting officers and contracting officer representatives will contact all current contractors to discuss."
• MSC to contact "commercial partners" to "determine their current COVID-19 response plans."
• Contractors must determine "what contracted mariners are returning from designated areas affected by an outbreak of COVID-19." Such identified mariners are to be denied access to "the work site for health and safety reasons" until these mariners are without symptoms for 14 days.

These and other measures are subject to change as conditions warrant. Nevertheless, AMO will post the MSC document to the secure section of its website at http://www.amo-union.org for review by active AMO members and applicants.

Meanwhile, the AMO headquarters building and satellite offices in Toledo remain open to AMO members, with necessary precautionary measures in place. All non-essential business travel by AMO officials, representatives and employees remains on indefinite hold.

Effective March 16, the AMO office in Washington, D.C. is closed indefinitely because of the voluminous daily pedestrian traffic in L'Enfant Plaza - the office buildings, the hotel, the museum and the food court and mall - and the close proximity to Capitol Hill, where the coronavirus infection rate is rising, and where Congressional offices are on limited hours and under restricted access.

All AMO members are asked to log into AMO Currents at http://www.amo-union.net for potentially daily updates. We ask as well that AMO members access the AMO Plans website at https://www.amoplans.com and STAR Center site at https://www.star-center.com for additional relevant information.

All AMO officials, representatives and employees are standing by to assist all AMO members with specific questions.

Thank you.

The AMO National Executive Board
March 16, 2020