The Greek Ministry of Tourism has published a draft health protocols for COVID-19 for yachting in Greece . Details of the preliminary draft can be found here:
Determining the maximum number of passengers
For open motorboats up to ten (10) metres in overall length, the maximum number of passengers allowed is equal to 50% of the maximum number allowed as stated in its licence.
For motorboats up to ten (10) meters in overall length, the maximum number of passengers allowed is equal to 30% of the maximum number specified in its license.
For motorboats over ten (10) meters in overall length, the maximum number of passengers allowed is equal to 70% of the maximum number specified in its license.
Sailing yachts will not be subject to any restrictions on the maximum number of passengers.
The above limits are valid until 15 June 2020, when the implementation of the measure and the epidemiological situation will be reassessed and possibly revised.
Passenger health
Each boat will be required to keep a logbook with the following information:
- names of persons on board
- their status (e.g. crew, passenger, visitor, technician, etc.)
- hours of embarkation and disembarkation from the boat. The logbook must be available for inspection by port and health authorities in electronic or printed format.
Each boat is allowed to carry the people who boarded the ship at the start of the trip, and other people are not allowed to board at intermediate stops or to visit other people.
In addition, each boat will have a logbook that monitors the health of the occupants for crew members and passengers. Crew members and passengers must measure their body temperature once a day, which will be recorded in the occupant health monitoring logbook. The logbook will be available for inspection by the port and health authorities in electronic or printed format.
If one of the occupants develops symptoms of COVID-19 infection (sudden onset of illness with at least one of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath), then this should be recorded in the occupant health monitoring logbook. and should be activated. management plan for a suspected COVID-19 case.
Reporting a suspicious case
According to the International Health Regulations, the person in charge of the ship (skipper) must immediately notify the competent authority of the next port of any public health hazard on board, including any case of suspected contagious disease.
Prior to arrival in port, a document for ships making international voyages, the Declaration of Maritime Health, must be completed by the captain and/or doctor, if on board and sent to the competent authority in accordance with local requirements.
For ships operating in inland waters, the competent authority must be notified prior to arrival in port by completing the Maritime Declaration of Health or by any other means. The master must inform the competent authority of the number of passengers (crew and passengers) and the presence of an incident on board. The master should be aware of any risk of contamination or any other risk to public health on board.
If a person on board (a crew member or passenger) develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection (including sudden onset of at least one of the following: coughing, fever, or shortness of breath), this should be reported immediately to the appropriate authorities by the means mentioned above.
Immediate notification to the relevant health authorities is important to determine whether the port has the capacity to transport, isolate, diagnose and care for the suspected case of COVID-19. The ship may be invited to sail to another port within a close distance if the required port capacity is not available or if justified by the medical condition of the COVID-19 suspect.
It is important that all arrangements are made as soon as possible to minimise the possibility of suspicious incidents on board.
Management of suspicious incidents
Each vessel must develop a written plan for the management of a suspected COVID-19 incident, which will describe the following:
a) symptoms that characterise a person as a suspected case of COVID-19 infection (sudden onset of illness with at least one of the following symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath),
b) the plan for communicating and informing the competent authority of the next/current port about the suspected case;
c) the process of temporarily isolating the individual who is considered a suspected case of COVID-19 until safe transfer for medical diagnosis (remain in a naturally ventilated area, place a surgical mask on the person showing symptoms and hand sanitizer containing 70% alcohol),
(d) the use of a surgical mask, goggles, footwear, a long-sleeved waterproof coverall and gloves by anyone entering the temporary containment area (used protective equipment must be disposed of in a bag and never reused, and hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water afterwards),
(e) ventilation of the temporary isolation area and cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and objects after removal of the patient with a 0,1% chlorine solution (4 teaspoons of 5% chlorine content to 1 litre of water) or 70% ethyl alcohol for 10 minutes (cleaning materials should be discarded or washed at 90°C before reuse),
(f) the procedure for referral of the COVID-19 infected suspect and all contacts of the patient to the competent authority of the port starting two days before the onset of symptoms.
For the implementation of the written plan, a competent person must be appointed who will be defined in the written plan and his/her data will be recorded.
If one of the occupants develops compatible symptoms, the plan must be put into action. The patient must be examined by a physician and a laboratory test performed for SARS-CoV-2.
If it is confirmed in the laboratory that the patient has COVID-19 infection, then the patient should be isolated in an onshore unit and those who came into direct contact with the patient should be quarantined for 14 days in a boat or other onshore unit or at home if they are Greek.
All actions required for the subsequent management of the incident will be in accordance with the competent health authority and EODY instructions.
Correct use of personal protective equipment
Sufficient quantities of antiseptics, disinfectants, personal protective equipment and cleaning materials should be available.
There should be written instructions for the proper use of personal protective equipment and the crew of ships should know how to use it.
Information on personal protective equipment for crew members according to their duties on the ship and their appropriate use is given in Annex 2.
Recommendations for crew and passengers
Visitors and crew on board
Visits to the boat and any gathering that exceeds the maximum number of people allowed on board should be avoided. If external crew members enter the boat, the 1.5 metre distance must be respected and it is recommended that a protective mask is worn by both external crew members and occupants while external crew members are on the boat. Also, the vessel's sanitary facilities must not be used by external crew.
Use of personal protective equipment
When visiting covered facilities in the field, the use of a protective mask is recommended.
Gloves should be used when refuelling, tying down, and other procedures that require touching the surfaces of equipment used by many people and there is no short-term hand washing facility or antiseptic station.
Gloves should be applied and removed according to the instructions for their correct application. It is emphasised that the use of gloves does not replace hand washing, before and after removal of gloves, hand hygiene should be applied with soap and water or antiseptic.
Personal hygiene
Hand disinfection with soap and water is indicated. If hands are not visibly soiled, an alternative alcoholic antiseptic solution containing 70% alcohol may be used. It is emphasised that the use of gloves does not replace hand washing, before and after removal of gloves, hand hygiene should be done with soap and water or antiseptic.
There must be antiseptic stations at the entrance to the interior spaces of the boat.
Proper respiratory hygiene should be observed, i.e. covering the mouth and nose with a tissue during murmuring and coughing, then throwing it into a plastic bag and disinfecting the hands. For this purpose, you should take care of the appropriate equipment (tissues or paper towels, disposable gloves, plastic bag, etc.).
Touching the face, nose and eyes should be avoided.
Social distance
When visiting indoor and outdoor areas on land, it is recommended to maintain a social distance of 1.5 metres between people and to use a protective mask.
In charter boats, inside personnel must wear a mask and keep a distance of 1.5 metres.
Training for crew and passengers
The crew must be briefed and trained according to their duties as follows: in the plan for managing a suspected COVID-19 incident, in the use of personal protective equipment, in the application of personal hygiene and social distancing, and in other special regulations of ports of destination for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.
In particular, information and training aims to:
- That they should not travel if they have come into contact with a COVID-19 patient in the 14 days prior to travel.
- Hand washing techniques (frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, use of gloves does not replace hand hygiene).
- After which activities hands should be washed, e.g. hands should be washed after every contact with another person or their respiratory secretions (saliva, droplets), with objects touched by other people such as handrails, handles, etc., before putting on the mask, before and after removing the mask, before and after removing gloves, after using the toilet, before eating, before touching the face, etc.
- In which cases it is recommended to use antiseptics instead of handwashing (e.g. if hands are not visibly dirty, an alternative alcohol solution can be used).
- Meticulous observance of hygiene measures, in particular: avoid hand contact with mouth, nose or eyes.
- Avoid contact with patients with respiratory symptoms.
- Proper waste management.
- Correct use of personal protective equipment (mask and gloves).
- Crew and passengers should be instructed to report relevant symptoms of COVID-19 infection to the captains immediately.
Ventilation and air conditioning
It is advisable to ventilate the space as much as possible. It is recommended to clean the rented ships three hours before the new tenants enter.
Cleaning and disinfection of premises
Instructions for cleaning and disinfection of premises are given in the Ministry of Health circular on the subject: "Application of cleaning and disinfection measures in floating means of transport in case of transport of suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases".
Avoid transactions directe
It is recommended that online transactions, orders, purchases of services and goods, equipment and telephone communications be preferred wherever possible.
Read the post in Greek here: https://www.tourismtoday.gr/
