Dear Member,
Further to our previous circulars on this subject, additional details about the government’s vaccination mandate for employees and travellers in the federally regulated marine sector have been provided in a new Interim Order (No. 7) published on October 30, 2021. The order imposes new testing and vaccination requirements on the authorized representatives of three different categories of vessel operators: operators of Canadian vessels, operators of vessels in Canadian waters with a pilot on board, and operators of Canadian and foreign cruise ships.
The specific requirements linked to each type of operation are listed below:
Operators of Canadian vessels (with twelve or more crew on board) – Sections 2-3 of the Interim Order
As of November 1, 2021:
- Must implement a vaccination policy in accordance with subsection 9(1) of the Interim Order.
As of November 15, 2021:
- Must verify that every person on board, other than a passenger or pilot, has received the first dose of a Covid vaccine before boarding.
- Must verify that every person on board who is not fully vaccinated, other than a passenger or pilot, has received a negative result for a Covid test performed no more than 72 hours before boarding.
As of January 24, 2022:
- Must verify that every person on board, other than a passenger or pilot, is fully vaccinated.
Operators of vessels in Canadian waters with a pilot on board – Sections 4-5 of the Interim Order
As of November 15, 2021:
- Must verify that the pilot has received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before boarding OR has received a negative result for a Covid test performed no more than 72 hours before boarding.
As of January 24, 2022:
- Must verify that the pilot is fully vaccinated.
Operators of Canadian cruise ships in any waters and foreign cruise ships in Canadian waters (voyages of 24 hours of more) – Sections 6-8 of the Interim Order:
As of November 1, 2021:
- Must implement a vaccination policy in accordance with subsection 9(1) of the Interim Order (only applies to Canadian cruise ships).
As of November 15, 2021:
- Must verify that every person on board, other than a passenger or pilot, has received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before boarding.
- Must verify that every person on board who is not fully vaccinated, other than a passenger or pilot, has received a negative result for a Covid test performed no more than 72 hours before boarding.
As of January 24, 2022:
- Must verify that every person on board, other than a passenger or pilot, is fully vaccinated.
The Interim Order also provides that as of November 1, 2021, foreign cruise ships must give the Minister of Transport with 60 days advance notification of the date when they are scheduled to arrive in Canadian waters.
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We will provide members with additional information on the above, and on other aspects of the government’s vaccination mandate, once we have had an opportunity to review the new orders and associated guidance in more detail. In the meantime, members with questions or comments on any of the above should contact the undersigned.
Sincerely,
Karen Kancens
Vice President