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Maritime Regulations regarding COVID-19

As the workforce across the country returns, companies need to consider the safety of their employees. Maritime business activities are not exempt from taking precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is especially a concern when considering groups of people on maritime vessels, as close spaces for an extended period of time could result in a virus hot spot. A maritime lawyer in New Orleans confirms that laws and guidelines are changing to adapt to these potentially hazardous conditions on commercial vessels as well as cruise ships.

First priority is identifying those who are sick. Vessels are required to report any illnesses on board, either passengers or crew, to both the Captaiin of the Port (COTP) as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a crew member or passenger becomes ill, a maritime lawyer in New Orleans advises that notification be made to both organizations, either immediately or within 15 days of approaching any U.S. port.

Any crew or passengers identified with symptoms of COVID-19 are now required to self-isolate and quarantine in addition to notifying the COTP and CDC. Also, a detailed travel history of all individuals falling ill must be provided to aid in tracking the disease. Tracking the course of the disease is imperative to reducing the spread, according to a maritime lawyer in New Orleans.

Cruise ships and the cruise industry has been hit especially hard since the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to numerous passenger illnesses and entire ships being quarantined for an extended period of time, the industry itself has taken a hit with the suspension of all cruises. By the time cruise journeys were suspended there were already thousands of recorded cases and nearly 100 deaths from cruise ship interaction.

The C.D.C. issued a “no sail order” in April, and it expires the last week of July. Cruise lines have already planned on re-launching August 1st, and pre-bookings have far exceeded those from a year ago. However, there is not any protocol or legislation in place regarding the safety of passengers and crew.

In fact, there are active lawsuits from cruise passengers regarding cruise line’s ineffective handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. These suits claim that ships should have not been allowed to embark back in late February due to negligent screening protocols in place among crew, ignoring passengers displaying symptoms, and other ineffective procedures.

It is important that strict regulations are in place for protecting those on board sea vessels from infection, and thereby infecting others. Until COVID-19 is eradicated, without strong safety guidlines shipboard personnel, like all employees on land, will be at risk of infection.

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