SECTOR DELAWARE BAY MSIB 07-20

Vessel Reporting Requirements for Delaware Bay Zone

An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting mariners and maritime commerce. This MSIB serves as a reminder that the illness of persons on board a vessel must be reported to both the Coast Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. Coast Guard has determined that the potential spread of COVID-19 from infected crew and passenger presents a hazardous condition which may affect the safety of the vessel, other vessels in the port, and the port itself.

Vessel representatives are reminded of the following requirements to report hazardous conditions and illnesses:
• Prior to clearance for entry into the Delaware Bay Captain of the Port (COTP) zone, the master of any foreign vessel must remit an Attestation of Hazardous Conditions letter to this office at SecDelBay.PortState@uscg.mil.
• This letter shall be submitted when the master submits the advanced notice of arrival and is attached to this MSIB. The letter may also be obtained from the vessel`s agent or this office.
• Key portions of this letter ask the master of the vessel to attest that:
o There are NO passengers or crew aboard this vessel that are exhibiting, or have exhibited, one or more COVID-19 or other flu-like symptoms in the past 14 days,
o There are NO passengers or crew aboard this vessel that have been to China (excluding Hong Kong, and Macau), Iran, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, or the Republic of Ireland in the past 14 days, and
o There are NO passengers or crew aboard this vessel that have been in contact with another person who has been to China (excluding Hong Kong, and Macau), Iran, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, or the Republic of Ireland in the past 14 days or another person exhibiting flu-like symptoms within the past 14 days.
• If the master is unable to attest to all three components, vessel or crew information shall be provided to this office for the portions that cannot be met, along with the attestation letter.
• This letter is intended to identify vessels that need to report hazardous conditions specifically related to COVID-19. However, under 33 CFR. § 160.216, the owner, agent, master, operator, or person in charge of a vessel is required to immediately notify the nearest Coast Guard Sector whenever there is any hazardous condition aboard the vessel.
• Failure to remit an Attestation Letter to this office may cause delays for clearance into the Delaware Bay COTP zone.

If you have any questions regarding the contents of this bulletin, please contact the Sector Delaware Bay Port State Control Division at (215) 271-4887 or SecDelBay.PortState@uscg.mil.

S.E. Anderson
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Captain of the Port
Sector Delaware Bay

Enclosure: Attestation of Hazardous Condition Letter
**SEE ATTACHMENT FOR ENCLOSURE**

This release has been issued for public information and notification purposes only.