Marine Advisory: 06/2021 - Reporting Requirements under International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and Carriage of Additional Medical Oxygen as a Result of COVID-19

SUBJECT: Reporting Requirements under International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and

Carriage of Additional Medical Oxygen as a Result of COVID-19

Ref: a) International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005)

b) WHO International Medical Guide for Ships

c) Marine Notice TEC-005 ‘IMDG Code and Medical Oxygen Carriage Requirements’

Dear Shipowners/Operators/Masters:

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to remind shipowners, operators and masters of the reporting requirements under the IHR 2005 and also to provide recommendation for carriage of additional medical oxygen as a result of COVID-19.

Reporting requirements under IHR 2005

The IHR 2005 requires that the master of a ship, before arrival at its first port of call in the territory of a State Party, shall ascertain the state of health on board, and the master shall, on arrival, or in advance of the vessel’s arrival if the vessel is so equipped and the State Party requires such advance delivery, complete and deliver to the competent authority for that port a Maritime Declaration of Health in the format specified in Annex 8 of the IHR 2005.

The Maritime Declaration of Health requires the master to declare if there is on board or has been during the international voyage any case of disease which the master suspects to be of an infectious nature, including symptoms of COVID-19.

The Liberian Administration has received reports that some masters are not declaring to the State Party, cases of seafarers showing symptoms of COVID-19 on board. It should be noted that non-reporting of seafarers showing symptoms of COVID-19 not only poses a danger to seafarers’ health but also to public health ashore. Additionally, timely reporting will assist State Parties to provide the necessary support for medical care and quarantine facilities.

Carriage of additional medical oxygen cylinders

Recently, the Administration received a report of a Liberian registered ship deviating to render assistance to another ship at sea whose medical oxygen was depleted. A seafarer on board was showing symptoms of COVID-19 and was suffering serious respiratory problems and the quantity of medical oxygen on board was insufficient as under the specific circumstances (high oxygen demand for an infected person) it was going to be depleted within a few hours.

The Administration is therefore, recommending shipowners/operators of ocean-going ships to give consideration to increasing the quantity of medical oxygen on board including individual face masks and pulse oximeters to be used in case of seafarers showing symptoms of COVID-19 with reduced oxygen saturation in the blood.

In determining the amount of additional medical oxygen to be carried on board, shipowners/operators should consider the current carriage of medical oxygen on board under the International Medical Guide for Ships and Medical First Aid Guide (MFAG); number of seafarers on board; and the nature of the vessels trading pattern, including facilities at ports visited.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact RegsandStandards@liscr.com

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