The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) provides information that based one the reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola cases in West Africa are observed in countries such as Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

All concerned are required to consider the following recommendations from International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Transport Workers ™ Federation (ITF) and International Maritime Employers ™ Committee (IMEC) and should be circulated to their ships as a matter of some urgency:

1. The Master should ensure that the crew are aware of the risks, how the virus can be spread and how to reduce the risk;
2. The ISPS requirements on ensuring that unauthorized personnel do not board the ship should be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the vessel being in port.
3. The Master should give careful consideration to granting any shore leave whilst in impacted ports;
4. The shipowner/operator should avoid making crew changes in the ports of an affected country; and,
5. After departure the crew should be aware of the symptoms and report any occurring symptoms immediately to the person in charge of medical care.

The MARINA, advises all concerned to refer to the following link of WHO at http://www.whoint/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/ and to the website of ICS at www.ics-shippingorg, for further information on necessary precautions.

For your guidance.

(SGD) MAXIMO Q. MEJIA JR, PhD
Administrator