Circular on procedures required for the movement of seafarers issued in Oman

Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has clarified the procedures required for the movement of seafarers to and from ships.

A statement issued online by Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said: "Pursuant to the decision of the Supreme Committee for dealing with COVID-19 pandemic and the Civil Aviation Authority circular issued on February 22,2021, which excluding the crews of ships mooring in the territorial waters of the Sultanate with the commitment of the company to ensure the presence of a hotel reservation covering the duration of their stay in Oman based on the letter of the shipping agent.

The Ministry has decided the following:

1. The shipping agent submits an application to the the port Department (Ministry of Health) at the Port through which the seafarers are to be transported from it, with the names and details of the seafarers attached.

2. Mention of the period during which the seafarers will stay in the Sultanate before joining the ship to be considered in the shipping agent's submitted application.

3. The Shipping agent shall bear the expenses of the procedures for the seafarers' s entry to the Sultanate and the costs of the institutional quarantine and medical examinations costs if necessary.

4. The shipping agent shall provide the seafarers with a copy of the correspondence and the approval of the Port Health Department (Ministry of Health) to show them to the airline crew before boarding the plane in the country of the departure as well as upon arrival at Muscat International Airport.

5. Ensure that the PCR result is negative for COVID-19 before embarking on the ship and remove the electronic tracking bracelet ."