Guidance for Protection against COVID-19[English Version]

Version 7.0
31 January, 2023

The Japanese Shipowners’ Association0Introduction
Importance of preventing the spread of infection in the oceangoing cargo shipping businessAccording to the decision of Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters under the Japanese
government policy (revised 8th September 2022), shipping operators shall continue providing stable
service for keeping their services in aspects of maintaining social stability in Japan.
In this regard, seafarers, who may join the Japanese shipping fleet vessels, shall continuously
maintain their best efforts to prevent affection from COVID-19.
About this GuidanceThis Guidance outlines recommendations, primarily for oceangoing shipping operators, that
operators are recommended to implement for the time being until the global COVID-19 pandemic
ends.
From now on, shipping operators should take all possible measures to prevent the spread of infection
by promptly and appropriately taking feasible and effective steps in line with the actual situation ateach workplace or work site and the risk of infection, using this Guidance as a reference.
This Guidance has been revised based on the latest information available as of September 1, 2021.
However, various details relating to COVID-19 are becoming clearer by the day, and this Guidance
will be revised as necessary based on infection trends, the findings of experts, and revisions to the
Basic Policies on which this Guidance is based.
These guidelines were revised considering the situation as of November 2022. Due to the toxicity ofthe omicron strain (BA.5 etc.), there have recently been no reports of severe physical conditions anddeath cases. Under such circumstances, we revised our guidelines in balancing preventive measuresand activities of the society and the economy (based in Japan).
This English version is translated from the original Japanese version to disseminate the preventive
measures against COVID-19 and variants on board the ship. Due to made initially for the Domestic
member companies, you may not retrieve, onboard, some of the references shown in this guidance.

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COVID-19 Characteristics and Infection Mechanism
COVID-19, a new coronavirus strain, broke out in Wuhan in Hubei Province in China aroundDecember 2019.
COVID-19 has repeatedly transformed, and the Omicron mutant strain (BA.1, Ba.4, BA.5, etc.) isprevalent nowadays.
The Omicron mutant strain is weakened compared to the Delta mutant strain but is easily infected.
As mentioned above, the omicron mutant strain is majorly all over the world now, and it is said thatthe risk for severeness has become low except for persons who may be in underlying conditions.
Meanwhile, since it is reported sequelae such as dysosmia and taste disorders may continue for an
extended period, we should keep preventive measures continuously.
Information on COVID-19 can be found on the following websites (described in Japanese only):
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Website.
[Symptoms]
Fever (52%), cough, or shortness of breath (29%), feeling of fatigue (14%), headache (8%),
digestive symptom (6%), runny nose (4%), taste disorder (3%), dysosmia (3%), joint pain (3%),
muscle pain (1%).
Other reported early signs before the onset of COVID-19 include:

Taste abnormalities (loss of taste of coffee or wine)

Sore toesTongue discoloration (browning)

An estimated 80% of those infected have relatively mild symptoms. Some people do not show
any signs (Breakthrough infection / Silent Positive).
Meanwhile, the following people are thought likely to become severe conditions:
People with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic kidney disease, diabetes,
heart disease, hypertension, cancer, people who are obese, smokers, and people aged 60 or older(however, there are also cases of infants and young people becoming severe).
[Incubation Period]
In conventional cases, symptoms appear on average ２-３ days (seven days maximum) after
infection.
It is reported that cases of breakthrough infection (silent positive) are 20% to 40%.
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[Infection Mechanism]
Transmission routes are the same as for influenza. There are three main routes:
Contact (direct and indirect)



DropletsAerosol (airborne)

Measures to prevent infection include:- Avoiding the three C’s: Crowded places, Close-contact settings, and Closed spaces(ingenuity is required to avoid each element)- Prevent contact infection (direct infection such as droplets, and indirect infection such as
contact with doorknobs, etc.)[Preventative Measures]
Proper consideration should be given to the above-stated infection mechanism when taking
preventive measures on ships, and the measures described in the following sections shouldbe thoroughly implemented. The mutant strains are becoming more contagious meaningthat preventative measures need to be even more thorough than before.
Contact Infection
In addition to direct person-to-person contact, such as shaking hands, there is also a risk ofinfection by touching areas that have been touched by an infected person (a person who has
tested positive).


Virus on cardboard boxes: the infectious virus can be detected for up to 24 hours

Virus on plastic surfaces: the infectious virus can be detected for up to 2-3 daysVirus on stainless steel surfaces: the infectious virus can be detected for up to 2-3 daysSpraying in the air with a medical spray: the infectious virus can be detected for up 3 hours

Some studies show the virus can remain on human skin for about nine (9) hours


Note that the above-stated estimates are for conventional strains. There is no data for variant
strains.

Washing hands properly and using alcohol disinfectants, etc., are effective means of preventing
contact infection.

While not covered in the media, etc., there is a possibility that the virus may be able to live on
items we frequently touch, such as smartphones. Be sure to disinfect your hands before and3

after using such items.

Droplet Infection
There have been cases in which people have been infected when droplets of saliva, etc., arepassed on to others when a person coughs, sneezes, or speaks within close range.
It is absolutely essential to avoid close contact. It is not considered to be close contact if masks orother face coverings are worn correctly (by both parties) and a distance of one meter or more ismaintained.
If it is challenging to wear a face mask, an adequate physical distance shall be kept.

Wearing masks adequately is an effective means of avoiding infection through droplets. Coughetiquette should always be practiced when sneezing or coughing. At the same time, a social
distance (physical distance) should be maintained when talking, etc., to others (If bothspeakers wear masks, they don't need to keep a 2-meter physical distance).
Outside, such as on deck, the crew may not need to wear masks unless they converse withsomeone, particularly with stevedores.
Care should be taken to avoid close contact when holding cargo meetings at ports of entry
and receiving guidance from a pilot.
Do not talk in a loud voice

Aerosol Infection
When people talk loudly, sneeze, or cough, etc., in poorly ventilated places such as indoors, notonly direct droplets but also saliva is dispersed into the air in the form of minute particles whichhang in the air.
In such cases, merely wearing a mask is not enough to prevent inhalation of the virus.
Consequently, natural ventilation in a room (if the condition is permitted) is effective inpreventing infection.
* The virus will be dispersed outdoors by winds. Cough etiquette should be practiced at all times.
* Constantly or frequently ventilate rooms (at least twice an hour for at least five minutes, orconstant ventilation. In cold conditions, keep cabin scuttles open enough to prevent the room
temperature from dropping and the like) using air conditioning equipment that complies withlaws and regulations. In dry (arid) conditions, rooms should be humidified to at least 40%
humidity.

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Mask types: while media, etc., reports indicate that non-woven masks are effective, be awarethat effectiveness may vary between products.
Note that although effective against droplet infection, masks do not provide adequate
protection against aerosol infection (especially inhalation) and that minimizing the gap
between the mask and the face is effective in reducing the risk of infection.

Ventilation Guidelines
The risk of aerosol infection is likely to increase when some crew members gather together in aroom.

Rooms should ideally be ventilated at all times. Using a commercially available a carbon dioxide
monitor is an option when ventilation opportunities are limited. Previous studies have shown thatcarbon dioxide levels increase when ventilation is poor, and therefore carbon dioxide monitors
indicate the risk of aerosol infection.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is said to be about 400 ppm. Ideally, the following
standards should be used as a guide for ventilating rooms.
Less than 800ppm:

no need for ventilation

800ppm to 1,000ppm:

no need for ventilation but risk starts to increase

1,000ppm or more:

ventilation required(There are slight differences between the manuals)
Close Contact
Close contact is a person who has been in close proximity or prolonged contact with a person
who has tested positive for COVID-19 and who is therefore highly likely to have been infected.
As mentioned above, the key factors in determining close contact are (1) proximity and (2) lengthof contact. A person is considered to be a close contact if they have touched an infected personwith their hands without taking necessary infection prevention measures or been in face-to-facecontact at a distance at which they can reach out and touch the other person (about one meter) for
more than 15 minutes.
Public health centers investigate the relationship and degree of contact between people who havebeen in close proximity with an infected person during the period in which there is a possibilityof the virus being transmitted (from two days before the onset of symptoms until the day of
hospitalization, etc.) (active epidemiological investigation), and determine whether individuals
should be classified as close contacts. Contact confirmation app users are notified if there is apossibility that they have spent more than 15 minutes within one meter of a person that has tested
5positive. Such notifications lead to rapid testing and treatment. See here for more details.
Even if a person has been in close proximity to an infected person for 15 minutes, the possibilityof their being infected varies greatly depending on the “3 C’s”, such as whether they were
wearing a mask, the kind of contact that occurred, such as whether they were speaking or singing,
and whether they were in face-to-face contact. For this reason, whether a person is considered aclose contact is ultimately decided by asking specific details about the situation in which theindividual came into contact with the infected person.
Measures at Shore Offices
Refer to the Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in
Offices published by the Japan Business Federation for basic information on the implementationof measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the land-based offices of operators (offices
here means workplaces under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, and refers to workplaces
where employees perform clerical work and are hereinafter referred to as “offices”).

Preventive Measures Before Boarding
It is best to take a PCR test just before boarding the ship. However, since many countries havelifted their border measures recently, the managers should take action considering the situation of
the countries where crew members may pass by or the vessel call.
The following measures should be taken to reduce the risk of infection based on the informationin the COVID-19 Characteristics and Infection Mechanism section.
Self-Quarantine
Preventive measures are required not to infect other crew members onboard. Isolation is notnecessary because vaccination (two times or boosted) are prevailing among seafarers (more than90%), and death case or aggravation case is rarely reported nowadays.
However, even though vaccinated, people cannot prevent infection entirely. Someone may bepositive even if there are no symptoms. Crew members shall take adequate preventive measureswhen the vessel may call at a port where severe border measures are still taken.
Self-Quarantine Period
Self-quarantine is not required. However, the manager may request their crew members to beisolated in their criteria.
PCR Tests, etc. (Negative Proof)
Under the border measures, countries may request seafarers who may not vaccinated a COVID6

19 certificate (negative certificate).
Vaccinations
If vaccines are available, it is advisable to be vaccinated against COVID-19 (boosted is better)when boarding.
The following should be taken into consideration regarding vaccinations:
General Matters
1. Decisions (intention) on whether to be vaccinated should be left to the sole discretion of theindividual.
2. Companies shall not force individuals to be vaccinated.
3. Companies shall not treat unvaccinated crew members at a disadvantage when assigning work,etc.
4. Be aware of the possibility of side reactions when vaccinated. Seafarers should take guidance
about the risks of the vaccine that will be administered to individuals who plan to be vaccinatedbefore being vaccinated.
5. Seafarers who may have concerns about being vaccinated should consult with a physician, etc.,
before the vaccine is administered.
6. Seafarers should get doses of the same vaccine if getting a vaccine that requires several doses.
7. Seafarers should consult with a physician immediately if experiencing an adverse side reaction
after being vaccinated.
8. Close attention should be paid to health changes after being vaccinated, and individuals shouldtake measures such as not working or reducing their workload if they feel unwell.
9. Companies should prepare for cases in which employees die or suffer complications(aftereffects) as a result of vaccination.
In Case that Crew Members Are Vaccinated in Their Home Country
1. Receive vaccinations in accordance with instructions (guidance) from the relevant country’s
government.
2. In the case of two-dose vaccines, give consideration to providing leave or the like so that thevaccine can be administered within an appropriate period.
In Case Vaccinated in a Third Country
1.

Be aware of the following if vaccinated in the US or any other third country:

In the case of the two-dose vaccines, consider the fact that it may not be possible to get thesecond dose in the third country due to time constraints. A single-dose vaccine (Johnson &Johnson: Though it is pending regulatory approval in Japan) is also available.
7When getting vaccinated after arriving in a country to replace crew members, etc., ensurecrew members have enough time in the country to recover from side reactions before boarding.
When getting vaccinated at the time of entry into port while on board, consider adverse

reactions, etc., and give more than enough consideration to the impact on work after being
vaccinated.
When allowing the crew to go ashore to get vaccinated, consider side reactions, etc., andgive adequate consideration to the period until boarding.
Be aware that if vaccinated in a third country, crew members may not be eligible forcompensation from their home country's government if any problems arise as a result of thevaccine. Be sure to obtain consent from the individual planning to be vaccinated. (Note that theJapanese government will not pay compensation in such cases. Companies should takecompensation into consideration for the time being when the crew is vaccinated in a third
country.)2.

Be aware that if vaccinated in a third country, crew members may not be eligible forcompensation from their home country government if any problems arise as a result of thevaccine. Be sure to obtain consent from the individual planning to be vaccinated. (Note that theJapanese government will not pay compensation in such cases. Companies should takecompensation into consideration for the time being when crew are vaccinated in a third
country.)

There is a risk of infection (breakthrough infection) even after being vaccinated. However, insuch cases, symptoms may not appear or may be difficult to recognize. Therefore, the abovestated infection prevention measures (wearing masks, use of disinfection, etc.) should becontinued in order to reduce the risk of infecting others.

Traveling to Ships
There is always a risk of being infected before arriving at a ship, even if the border measures
are lifted or eased.

Preventing Infection on Board
Preventing Infection on Ships


Wear masks when seafarers may converse with outside people such as stevedores (withinreason, the crew should be instructed on how to wear masks properly) and practice coughetiquette.
Wash hands (including disinfecting with alcohol) in the recommended manner.



Create an environment in which hand hygiene can be performed as necessary.
8Check body temperature (disinfect thermometers with alcohol after each use) if necessary.



Inform the management company if a crew member has a higher than normal temperatureor has early symptoms such as abnormal taste and take appropriate measures such as isolating
in a cabin.
Version two of this Guidance (not released in English) stated, “Inform the managementcompany if a crew member has a higher than normal body temperature (37.5ºC according to the
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, but at the discretion of each company) for several days
and there are suspicious symptoms”. However, waiting this long is risky, and so we recommend
informing the management company if a crew member has any initial symptoms before thefever mentioned above or a higher than normal body temperature (we cannot specify how high,but if it is close to 37ºC, you may need to treat it as being suspicious) just to be on the safe side.
If necessary, use a saliva test kit (antigen test kit) (Such test kits should be proper
management and usage guidance should be provided).
Regularly disinfect the inside of the ship. Regularly disinfect doorknobs, PC keyboards,

onboard telephones (push buttons and handset), cabinets, handrails, touch panels, and otherareas that are frequently touched by people (the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, theMinistry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, and from manufacturers have indicated that sodium
hypochlorite solution can be made using commercially available bleach if there is not enoughalcohol disinfectant available. However, such disinfectant solution should not be used todisinfect hands)

Toilets, showers, and other facilities used by multiple people have confined spaces inwhich it is easy to become distracted. Since this can increase the risk of infection, such spaces
should be thoroughly disinfected, and measures should be taken to prevent people from staying
there too long. Hands should be washed, and facilities should be disinfected frequently after use(be aware that the virus may accumulate on shower room floors). Often wash the ship crew’s
uniforms and clothes.


In common toilets on-board, seafarers must wash hands well and prohibit sharing cotton

towels (it is highly recommended to use paper towels instead).
Regularly ventilate rooms on board. Ventilation is also an effective means of preventing

infection.


We recommend eating in silence during mealtimes whenever possible (if distance is notenough).


Use disinfectant sprays to disinfect handrails and fixtures, etc. (do not use disinfectant

sprays intended for spraying on clothes to disinfect hands).
Karaoke is an effective way to relieve crew members’ stress. However, it may result in a

3C situation and so should be avoided in principle. Refer to the Guidelines for Karaoke Studios
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(if available), etc. if karaoke is unavoidable. Ventilate rooms wherever possible at appropriate
times (we also strongly recommend using carbon dioxide monitors).
The above is a list of points to prevent infection on board ships. There is, however, no need tobe more nervous than necessary. Suspicion on board a ship affects the safe operation of theship, and sufficient care should be taken to avoid such situations (however, thorough preventive
measures should be maintained as variant strains are becoming prevalent).The above is a list of
points to prevent infection on board ships. There is however no need to be more nervous thannecessary. Suspicion on board a ship affects the safe operation of the ship, and sufficient careshould be taken to avoid such situations (however, thorough preventive measures should bemaintained as variant strains are becoming prevalent).
Preventing Infection during Loading and Unloading
Refer to the JSA Member Notification No. 126/Shipowner Company No. 24, dated May 1,
2020, Recommendations for Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 During On-Board Cargo
Handling on Oceangoing Ships and JSA Member Notification No. 136/Shipowners No. 48,
dated May 12, 2020, IMO Protocols on Safe Contact Between Ship Crews and Shore-Based
Workers, regarding contact with shore-based workers during loading and unloading (Those
circulars are available in Japanese only.)

Measures When a Crew Member Develops COVID-19
Notify the Port State
The Master shall not report falsely.
A quarantine notification should be made to the port State and instructions sought from theauthorities of that country, in accordance with the requirements in quarantine laws of thatcountry.
Envisaged response:Quarantine at a quarantine anchorage (or follow the instructions by a quarantine
authority);

Take the crew member to a shore medical facility if seriously ill; andContinue to anchor at the anchorage for at least 14 days (no land or sea transportation
permitted as a rule); Need to replenish food, drinking water, medicine, etc.

Landing in Infected Regions
In principle, care should be taken to avoid landing unnecessarily in infected countries (regions).
Please refer to the list of infected countries and infected people provided by the Association
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regarding countries.
Please also refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Travel Advice and Warning on Infectious
Diseases.


Level 4: Evacuate and avoid all travel

Japanese nationals are urged to evacuate immediately from the country/area to a safecountry/area and should avoid all subsequent travel to the country/area regardless of the
purpose.


Level 3: Avoid all travel

Japanese nationals are urged to avoid all travel to the country/area regardless of the purpose.


Level 2: Avoid non-essential travel

Japanese nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the country/area and to stay alert
to the situation, and take appropriate safety measures should they decide to travel.
Level 1: Exercise caution

Japanese nationals traveling to and residing in the country/area are advised to stay alert to thesituation.
When changing crews overseas, take the risk of infection into account in areas at risk ofinfection, even in those countries and regions in which crew changes are possible.
As of October 2022, all countries are designated as Level 1 (in Japan).

end

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