Foreign crew of ships from India not allowed to disembark - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Foreign crew members of ships coming from India will not be allowed to disembark at local ports throughout the movement control order (MCO) period, the transport ministry said.

Minister Wee Ka Siong said that this decision was made by the National Security Council to prevent Covid-19 variants from India coming to our shores, adding that he had conveyed this to the marine department and port authorities on April 28.

“However, Malaysians from these ships are allowed to enter but they must be quarantined for 14 days in a government-approved centre,” he said in a statement today.

Wee said that ships found to have had Covid-19 patients or symptoms to that effect would have to be quarantined for 14 days after the health ministry makes the necessary checks under its Maritime Declaration of Health protocol.

“All dock workers must also use health ministry approved personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and disposable latex gloves when working on vessels.

“Non-dock workers are not allowed to enter any vessel docked at Malaysian ports without health ministry approval,” he added.

Wee said crew members are not allowed to interact with dock workers while they are doing work such as lashing and stevedoring.

Yesterday, the marine department said ships from India that enter local ports are not required to undergo the 14-day quarantine at sea.

The department added that maritime health declarations of the vessels would be verified by health ministry officials and given a certificate of “free pratique” before they are allowed to enter the port and approach the dock for operations.

It added only crew members who are suspected to be at high risk of carrying Covid-19 need to undergo quarantine for 14 days at sea.

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