MEASURES, ADOPTED AND ENFORCED BY THE ROMANIAN

AUTHORITIES WITH RESPECT TO COVID-19

I. General
On the 16 March 2020 in relation to COVID-19 outbreak the Romania
government inforced the “emergency situation”, introducing number of restrictive
measures, affecting all areas of our life. Following these measures and the
prescriptions of the National Emergency Situation Unit, Romanian health
authorities, the Romanian Ministry of transport, infrastructure and communication
as well as the communications and guidelines of the European Commission, the
International Maritime Organization, the World Health Organization, and other
international bodies, the Romanian authorities has adopted and enforced emergency
procedures with respect to maritime transport and calls of Romanian ports.

The maritime and inland waterways transport, the access of ships in Romanian ports,
as well as the inspection and operation of ships are carried out without restrictions,
in compliance with all the COVID19 infection prevention measures imposed by the
Ministry of Health.
II. Measures in respect of ships calling Romanian maritime ports
All ships regardless of the risk area from which they come:
- have the permission to berth
- the crew will be selected clinically and thermometrically;
- if all the crew members are healthy and shows no high temperature at the time of
the check, Free Pratique is granted
- the crew remains isolated on board (they do not receive shore passes);
- loading / unloading operations are allowed;
- the direct contact between the crew and the shore personnel will be limited so that
a minimum number of people to interact with those on board and only with the
following conditions:
1.People on board to wear filter masks, and the port authorities / operators to wear
protective equipment consisting of filter mask and gloves, all for single use.
2. As far as possible, the interactions should take place on deck, outdoors and should
not last more than 15 minutes.
3. Keep a conversation distance of at least 2 m.
4. The protective equipment used on one ship shall not be used on another ship,
otherwise, there is the danger of spreading viruses.
5. The protective equipment is collected in yellow bags, before unboarding and
incinerated by the waste collection company with which the respective institutions
have a contract.
6. Disinfect hands and wash as often as possible with water and soap.

III. Measures in respect of navigating personnel

Extension of documents validity for navigating personnel:
 Certificates of Competency and Certificates of Proficiency which will expire
before 1st of July 2020 are accepted with a general extended validity for a
period of up to three (3) months, but not later than 1st of October 2020;
 Medical fitness certificates and seaman’s books which will expire before 1st
of July 2020 are accepted with a general extended validity for a period of up
to three (3) months, but not later than 1st of October 2020;
 Endorsements confirming or recognizing a certificate of competency,
certificate of proficiency, certificate of an approved training course and
certificate of GMDSS radio operator which will expire before 1st of July 2020
are accepted with a general extended validity for a period of up to three (3)
months, but not later than 1st of October 2020;
 Boatmaster certificates and certificates of capacity of inland waterways
personnel which will expire before 1st of July 2020 are accepted with a
general extended validity for a period of up to three (3) months, but not later
than 1st of October 2020;
 Medical fitness certificates and service books for inland waterways personnel
which will expire before 1st of July 2020 are accepted with a general extended
validity for a period of up to three (3) months, but not later than 1st of October
2020;
 Special certificates for inland waterways personnel which will expire before
1st of July 2020 are accepted with a general extended validity for a period of
up to three (3) months, but not later than 1st of October 2020;

The individual seafarer will not be required to submit an application.

The above measures were notified to IMO, the states with whom we have concluded
reciprocal recognition agreements and to the PSC departments of several maritime
administrations.
The physical access of seafarers inside RNA and the respective services provided to
them were restricted to a minimum.
IV. Port State Control
 Vessels are inspected only in Priority I and Priority I high risk, after an
analysis of all risk factors regarding COVID 19.
 In relation to inspections’ planning, all information which are relevant
regarding COVID 19 are checked, such as: last port of calls for a period of
one-two months, medical control result on ship’s arrival, health declaration,
the action of national health department and port administration to apply
quarantine or isolation of ship’ crew or other necessary measures specific to
this pandemic COVID 19.
 On board vessel, protective equipment is used by PSCOs as follows: single
use plastic gloves, single use mouth caps, single use anti-virus protective suits,
single use plastic socks for footwear protection.
 We instruct our PSC Inspectors that on board food and drink is forbidden, no
hand shake, meetings in Master’s cabin max. 2 inspectors with two crew
member’s staff maintaining a > 1,5m distance between them. After leaving,
cleaning hands with disinfecting materials.
 A working and communication mode was implemented (not face to face)
under the specific conditions of the pandemic, between Romanian National
Coordinator and PSC Inspectors before boarding the vessel.

V. Measures taken by the Maritime Coordination Center

- Evacuation plan for persons on board quarantined ships in Constanta /
Mangalia / Sulina port and on board other ships requesting specialized
medical assistance in case of suspected COVID-19 virus infection.
- A backup VTS console is installed in another room

VI. Special measures - ISPS

For the security inspections of foreign flagged vessels:
- ISPS protocol for the selection of vessels to be inspected is followed.
- the vessels selected are checked according to Maritime Single Windows
at the last 10 ports in which the ship had commercial operations and according
to the health declaration, time and place of boarding for each crew member,
their health status and whether the ship is quarantined or not.
- Daily checks on the website of the National Institute of Public Health in
Romania, for the list of international areas affected by Covid-19.
 - If the ship selected for inspection was within red / yellow areas mentioned
above, the health declaration does not comply with the provisions in force, we
avoid carrying out the inspection.
- After these assessments and in special situations according to the ISPS
Code, the inspection is carried out using the protective equipment
recommended by the sanitary authorities (filter mask, disposable gloves,
safety glasses, yellow bags for collecting the equipment used with the
biological risk inscription).

VII. Recommendations applicable for port area activities

1. PORT TERMINALS
Establishment of an emergency working group within each company and
holding meetings whenever necessary to evaluate the situation and resize the
measures;
Limiting group activities, gatherings and meetings as much as possible, and
in case of need, respecting a minimum distance of 1m between persons
(preferably 4.5-5 m), either outside or inside the buildings;
Implementation of online activities in most offices, according to the type of
activity and using for the exchange of documents with authorities and partners
through electronic devices when possible;
Implementation of local workplace hygiene measures with appropriate
alcohol-based disinfectants and chlorine. It is recommended to install
dispensers with disinfectant in the access areas, at entrance points and in
recreation areas;
Workers exposed to the work with the public (gates, receptions, etc.) will be
equipped with filter masks, goggles and protective gloves, so that the contact
is limited as much as possible;
Limitation of pedestrian traffic inside the terminal, and for trucks stationed
inside the terminal it is recommended to limit the pedestrian activities of the
driver;
In the activity on / to the ship limiting as much as possible the physical contact
with the crew will be considered and also limiting the activity in the closed
areas of the ship such as: control deck, the engine room, offices and common
spaces of the ship, warehouses;
All port operators will send to port administration information regarding any
case of infection or suspected infection with COVID-19, as well as whether
 they operate ships that have been or are in isolation. The information will be
made through the Persons Designated with the Security of the Port Facilities;
Weather a suspicion of infection with COVID19 arises, the port health office,
the emergency no. 112 and the national public health department will be
announced immediately.

2. Trucking /road transport companies operating in seaports

The companies will provide the drivers with disinfectants, masks, gloves,
protective equipment, safety glasses.
Drivers will wear protective gear whenever necessary in relation to port access
gates, Customs and Border Police offices;
Drivers will be informed to remain as far as possible in the truck cab when
operating in the terminal (loading / unloading of cargo);
For drivers coming from high-risk areas, drive-in areas should be set up.

3. Maritime Pilots
o The access of pilots on board ships arriving from red / yellow risk areas to
Romanian maritime ports is forbidden if they do not have the protective equipment
established by the Ministry of Health.
o Before embarking a ship, the pilot must be informed of the last port of call if
the ship has reached in the last 14 days a port in an area affected by Coronavirus and
the status of the crew members’ boarding (date and place) . This information can be
found in the forms transmitted through the Maritime Single Window system and any
other official sources (ship's agent, port medical office, etc.).
o Before embarkation, the pilot shall contact the ship by radiotelephone and
obtain, among other technical and operational data also the following information
from the ship master:
a. If the ship comes from an affected area and the date of departure from that
port
b. If crew members have boarded in the last 14 days, specifying the place of
embarkation and the place that person comes from (nationality)
c. If on board there are crew members / passengers with symptoms including
fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and heavy breathing, as well as their
condition.
d. If there are isolated or quarantined persons on board.
o Pilots boarding ships must wear protective equipment consisting of: suit, mask
with filter, gloves, goggles, all disposable.
o The protective equipment used on one ship will not be used on another ship,
otherwise there is the danger of carrying and spreading viruses.
o After descending from the ship, the protective equipment is collected in bags
and incinerated by the waste collection company with which the respective
institutions have a contract.
o It is highly recommended to disinfect hands and wash as often as possible
with soap and water.
o Limiting contact with other essential crew members (master, watch officer,
helmsman)
o Avoid touching the mouth, eyes and nose with unwashed hands or gloves;
o Frequent disinfection of hands with alcohol solution and / or frequent washing
of hands while on board;
o It is forbidden to have meals on board the ship;
o Keeping a distance of at least 2 m from the crew members, avoiding physical
contact (e.g. polite gestures, shaking hands, etc.);
o Avoid touching the surfaces of the control room, surfaces with which the crew
members come in frequent contact (tables, control panel, helm, writing instruments);
o Keeping as much as possible the documents taken from the ship (pilot's
vouchers) in a separate envelope in the pilot's bag (content that can be disinfected
after getting on board).
o It will be avoided to drive several pilots at the same time to and from the ships.
o If a pilot finds out that a crew member has the symptoms mentioned above,
he will contact VTS, the harbor master’s office and the public health department,
through the port medical office.
o If a crew member / passenger is suspected of being infected with COVID-19,
according to IMO and WHO recommendations, he / she must be isolated on board
the ship in a cabin until the instructions are received from the health inspector.
o If the pilot has contacted a crew member infected with COVID-19, he must
inform the VTS, the harbor master’s office and the port health service before
debarking.