COVID-19 MOMBASA PORT REGULATIONS

COVID-19 MOMBASA PORT REGULATIONS

By Douglas Muriithi

COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic threatening

to wipe out human lives and the Port of

Mombasa just like many other industries is not

exceptional.

The management wish to share the latest

update and the efforts being undertaken by the

Kenya Ports Authority management to control

the spread of the virus.

As of 13th April 2020, KPA has seven

confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic

started.

Four of these cases involve KPA staff while

three are contracted cleaners working in the

Port.

Unfortunately, KPA lost two members of staff to

the disease while all those who had contacts

with the patients have been identified and are

being monitored in quarantine within Mombasa.

Currently, all the patients are admitted at the

Coast Provincial General hospital and are

responding well to treatment.

KPA wishes to reiterate its commitment in

fighting the scourge, we have already instituted

several serious measures to control the spread

of the virus in the Port.

Following the outbreak of the killer disease KPA

appointed a committee of senior managers to

plan, manage and coordinate the Authority’s

preparedness to combat the virus.

The Committee which has since enhanced

KPA’s preparedness by making concerted

efforts to acquire preventive equipment and

facilities.

Have so far put up 107 handwashing points

with antiseptic soap and placed sanitizer

dispensers at various areas.

These include all entry gates, buildings, offices

and operation areas and most importantly staff

are regularly issued with face masks.

Screen notices at the Port entrances especially

at gate 24 which prompt everyone to wear a

mask before entering the Port compound.

It is also important to note that KPA have

enabled on-line cargo documentation

processes to facilitate our customers clear

cargo electronically and decongest human

traffic within the Port.

Still on awareness, KPA are also using

stationary Public Address System to remind

workers about hygiene requirements.

Fumigation has also been carried out especially

in offices occupied by staff found to be positive

or suspected to have contracted the virus and

plans are underway to extend this to cover the

entire port.

Surgical gowns have been acquired for clinical

staff and those with close interaction with

vessels such as pilots, security officers among

others.

To ensure compliance, Isolation rooms have

been set up at Bandari clinic where suspected

patients are temporarily held waiting for public

health officers to pick them up. More rooms are

being prepared for this purpose.

The management has also released staff above

58 years of age and those with pre-medical

conditions to work from respective homes in

order to avoid crowds at the workplace in line

with the government circular.

As you are aware, KPA are the key facilitators of

maritime trade hence together with the Port

Public Health officers we have rolled out

detailed procedures to handle the vessels.

These are as follows:

Mandatory Pre-arrival Reporting on board must

be undertaken at least 48 hours before the

vessel arrival in Kenya’s territorial waters.

Masters of ships must therefore submit a duly

completed and compulsory Maritime

Declaration of Health form to the Port Health

officer.

Masters shall regularly update the Port Health

Office on the health status of the crew on

board.

All arriving vessels with crew/passengers with

recent travel history to countries with confirmed

cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days must

undergo special monitoring and Port Health

must issue restricted pratique.

Every ship entering Kenya from a country with

confirmed cases of COVID-19 is subjected to

rigorous inspection in the designated location

as directed by the Harbour Master in

consultations with Port Health Office.

If at any time during a vessel’s stay at port, any

health risk is reported, a Port Health Officer

shall conduct assessments on a case by case

basis to manage the risk and eliminate

contamination other crew port personnel and

others

Crew/passengers with any of these symptoms

(fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore

throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, cough

or shortness of breathing) the Master Must

report to the Port Health Office.

Crew/passengers of vessels from confirmed

COVID-19 countries will Not be granted shore

passes.

Only Kenyans and foreigners with valid

residence permits will be allowed to disembark

after presentation of Health Declaration forms

and by the health Authorities.

All visitors (dockworkers, agents, surveyors,

port state inspectors) to a ship from countries

confirmed with COVID-19 cases must be

informed about the precautionary measures

while on board.

It shall be prohibited for anyone to board a

vessel before the completion of the health

inspection of the crew or passengers.

All visitors to use protective disposable mask

and latex gloves while on board and should

dispose them on board before disembarking in

a special disposal bin.

Masters of all ships due to arrive in a Kenyan

port are required to declare their last 10 ports of

call or voyage memo for the last three months,

whichever is higher, and confirm that there is no

crew showing symptoms of COVID-19 on board.

Ships agents, if possible, should use alternative

means of contacting the vessels instead of

boarding the vessels, so as to minimize

potential contamination risk.

Ship crew change is temporarily suspended

until further notice. The exception is given to

Kenyan crew and persons with valid resident

permits.

The Masters of vessels shall be required to

provide sanitizers at the ship’s gangway for

persons entering and upon exit.

Garbage from vessels arriving from confirmed

COVID-19 countries will not be allowed to be

discharged at any Kenyan Port.

Staff and the entire port community are

assured that no efforts shall be spared to

ensure the Port remains a safe working

environment.

The Authority shall also continue supporting

the National and County Government efforts in

the war aga