December 27, 2021 | Circular No. 11377
Dear Member,
Please be advised that Transport Canada has a new Ship Safety Bulletin on seafarer mobility to reflect the significant increase in the number of recorded cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant across Canada. A link to the new bulletin, which replaces SSB 19/2021, can be found HERE.
Key elements of the new bulletin include the following:
- Shore leave should only be extended to asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19 carrying, fully vaccinated, crew members and should not exceed four hours in length per interval; and the seafarer should follow the advice of their employer, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and local health officials;
- Crew members are expected to inform the Master of the vessel of their whereabouts in order to support possible COVID-19 contact tracing;
- Unvaccinated crew members should only be extended shore leave to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine.
Transport Canada has indicated that these measures are temporary and will be reassessed on January 10, 2022.
Best regards,
Karen Kancens
Vice President