8 May 2023
The Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3) / JAMSTEC
HSQE GroupJAMSTEC/MarE3 Criteria for Boarding Ships in regard to COVID-19
The Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3) has set this Criteria
in response to the change of governmental policy in regard to COVID-19 from 8 May 2023
(cf. Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW) COVID-19 information site, see below),
and the associated MarE3 policy (“[COVID-19] Policy on Cruise Operations” issued on 8May 2023, See Attachment). This Criteria replaces the “Criteria for Boarding Ships forPrevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (for Mariners / Non-Mariner Personnel, Rev. 7)” issued
on 8 March 2023, which is applicable to all boarding personnel on JAMSTEC vessels after
8 May 2023.
MHLW COVID-19 information site:
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000164708_00001.html
Definition of “boarding personnel” in this document
 Those who plans to board JAMSTEC vessels (except for day visitors) including mariners,
researchers, research assistants, operation crew and other related personnel (Note 1).

Procedures to be carried out by boarding personnel
By 14 days before boarding••

Recommend to complete at least three COVID-19 vaccinations (Note 2).
Obtain the latest information about the infection status at the boarding location, and takeall possible infection preventive measures.

From 14 days before boarding••

Every morning measure your body temperature and check your health conditions (Notethat the day of boarding is counted as “Day 0”).
If any of the symptoms listed below are observed, promptly report these findings to theMarE3 Operations Department, Fleet Operations Group (Note 3) through the Coordinator(For details of the Coordinators, see at the last of this document).
 Any breathing difficulties (dyspnea), strong fatigue (malaise) and high fever (>37.5 ℃).
 Mild cold-like symptoms, such as fever (higher than his/her normal temperature even
it is below 37.5 ℃) or cough continued four or more days.
 Subjective symptoms of abnormalities in senses of taste and smell.
••

If you fall into any of the cases below, immediately report to MarE3 Operations
Department, Fleet Operations Group through the Coordinator (Note 3).
Having travelled to a country or a region (designated by the Japan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs with infection disease alert level 2 or higher) within 14 days before boarding.

Identified as being infected with COVID-19.



Having a possible close contact with a person who has travelled to a country or aregion (designated by the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs with infection disease
alert level 2 or higher) within 14 days before boarding.



Having a possible close contact with a person who has been identified as being
infected with COVID-19 (two days before to seven days after the day of being
infected / identified).

While at home, or in other accommodations, or during transportation, your effort for
taking infection prevention measures is highly appreciated. According to a JAMSTEC
occupational health doctor, the following measures are effective during the infection
spreading period: Hand wash and ventilation
 Avoiding situations such as social gatherings, long feasts in large groups, a 3Cs(Closed spaces, Crowded places, Close-contact settings) or other environment that
increases the risk of infection (e.g. crowded places, loud-speaking situations)

At time of boarding• Recommend hand disinfection at the Gangway.
• Provide your own body temperature measuring device, masks, towels, a cup and a waterbottle for personal use during the cruise. If necessary, bring your vaccine certificate,antiseptics and personal beverages.
• During the infection spreading period, the Chief Scientist / Principal Investigator will
discuss with the Captain about measures to prevent infection on the ship, and keep thepassengers informed immediately after boarding.

Coordinator:
Chief Scientist / Principal Investigator
Person in charge of NME
Person in charge of MQJ
Person in charge of MWJ
Person in charge of MOL Marine &Engineering
JAMSTEC MarE3 Operations
Department, Fleet Operations GroupFor Boarding Researchers (Incl. subcontractors)
For NME personnel (Incl. subcontractors)
For MQJ personnel (Incl. subcontractors)
For MWJ personnel (Incl. subcontractors)
For MOL Marine & Engineering personnel(Incl. subcontractors)
For JAMSTEC members (excluding JAMSTEC
Boarding Researchers) and JAMSTEC
subcontractors/agents, public relations

MarE3 Operations Department, Fleet Operations Group Contact (common for each ship):mare3-fleetops-kikan@jamstec.go.jp
For questions about this Criteria

MarE3 HSQE Group: mare3-hsqecore@jamstec.go.jp

The above standards may change based on the policies of the administrative agencies
and JAMSTEC in the future. In addition, the above standards will remain effective
until a new revised standard is issued or an instruction to cancel application is issued.
If you have any questions, please contact the appropriate department of MarE3 throughthe Coordinator.

Notes1) Regarding "boarding personnel" in this document

Those who belongs to the “high-risk categories” listed below are not allowed to board cruise
moves beyond a four-day travel distance, in principle, following the recommendations from aJAMSTEC occupational health doctor (except for the boarding while the ship is alongside).



2)

Elderly people (70 years old or older)
Those who have basic illness such as listed below:• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)• Chronic kidney disease (except for having a medical doctor’s diagnosis andpermission)• Diabetes (fasting blood glucose level 150 mg/dL or more, with or without oral
treatment, HbA1c is less than 7.0%, in principle permitted)• Hypertension (except for having a medical doctor’s diagnosis and permission)• Cardiovascular disease (except for having a medical doctor’s diagnosis andpermission)
Pregnancy (third trimester)
Recommend to complete three times or more vaccinations that Japanese government certifies(See MHLW website below). However, if vaccination is required by the port state of theresearch area or a planned emergency entry port, or by a border control measures at the reentry to Japan, vaccination is mandatory for boarding. Responding to the requirement fromthe Operations Department, prepare a vaccination certificate and bring it at the boarding.

cf. Japanese government-certified vaccines (MHLW)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/border_vaccine.html
3) Upon receiving the report from the boarding personnel, the MarE3 Operations Department
will determine availability of boarding. In case the person has any symptoms, a doctor’sdiagnosis is required (at the boarding personnel’s cost), and the MarE3 Operations
Department will determine based on the diagnosis. In case the person is diagnosed to be “notinfectious”, the boarding will be permitted, in principle. Even if the person is diagnosed to be“infectious”, the boarding will be permitted without another diagnosis as far as the recovery
period specified in the latest MLHW guideline is over by the day before boarding.
High fever, chill or headache WITHOUT any other cold-like symptoms such as cough,pain in the throat and breathing difficulty within three days after COVID-19 vaccination (theday of vaccination and two days after that) are likely to be side-effects of vaccination. In sucha case, reporting to the Fleet Operations Group is not required.

Attachment
May 8, 2023
Katsuyoshi KAWAGUCHI
Director General
Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering (MarE3)
JAMSTEC
COVID-19 Policy on cruise operations
The Emergency Response Headquarters for New Coronavirus (headed by JAMSTEC
President Yamato, hereinafter referred to as “Headquarters”) has formulated and revised a
policy (first edition, dated September 13, 2021) for cruise operations (in response to newcoronavirus), and has requested all crew members/passengers on board to take measuresto prevent infection before and during cruises.
As of today, the Government of Japan has placed the new coronavirus infectious disease in
the same category as seasonal influenza under the Infectious Disease Control Law, andhas decided to take similar prevention measures.
Although the COVID-19 team is suspended today, we will take appropriate measures for
future cruise operations, based on the government's actions and the status of infection.
We express our sincere appreciation to all crew members/passengers on board for following
the recommendations and policies enacted to support precautionary measures to prevent
infection before and during JAMSTEC cruises.
The following is our revised policy, replacing the "Policies for the JAMSTEC/MarE3’s
Responses to the COVID-19 during the Cruises" (dated February 1, 2023), regarding cruise
operations, which in principle applies to cruises departing from this day forward:
1. Embarkation policy(1) We recommend that all new crew members be vaccinated at least three times in order toprevent severe cases of coronavirus. However, if required by the country to which the ship isexpected to enter in the event of an emergency, or by the border measures to be taken when
the ship returns to Japan, the necessary measures will be needed accordingly.

1(2) MarE3 will not conduct pre-boarding PCR testing for all new crew members/passengers.
In addition, MarE3 does not request self-isolation (bubble method) prior to embarkation at
the port of embarkation, regardless of the number of vaccinations.
(3) All new crew members/passengers must comply with the latest criteria for boarding.
2. Response in the event of a person strongly suspected of being infected with coronavirus
during the cruise:The response shall be in accordance with the "Crisis Management Response Manual".

2