What Maritime Pilots Need to Know about COVID-19
As a maritime pilot, how can I protect myself and slow the spread of
COVID-19?
For maritime pilots, potential sources of exposures include close contact with
a vessel crewmember with COVID-19 and touching your nose, mouth, or eyes after
contacting surfaces or handling items that a person with COVID-19 has touched.

Notify your pilots’ association and stay home if having symptoms.
Follow CDC-recommended steps if you are sick. You should not return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers.
Follow CDC-recommended precautions and notify your pilots’ association if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.
Limit close contact (within 6 feet) with others when possible and consider taking the following steps: 
Use external stairs following a path of minimum exposure to anyone on board to access the vessel bridge when possible.
Do not shake hands with anyone aboard, including during the “master-pilot exchange”.
Remind the vessel master to limit wheelhouse crew to essential personnel (such as crew involved in vessel navigation) while the pilot is on board.
Limit your use to one radar, workstation, etc.
Avoid unnecessary contact with frequently touched bridge surfaces.
Consider carrying hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for all pilotage assignments and use it to clean hands when soap and water are not available for handwashing.
Following each pilot job, clean and disinfect radios, portable pilot units, life jackets, etc. with an EPA-approved disinfectantexternal icon against the virus that causes COVID-19. If EPA-approved disinfectant is not available, a diluted bleach solution prepared according to the manufacturer’s label for disinfection can be used.


CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Cloth face coverings may prevent people who don’t know they have the virus from transmitting it to others. These face coverings are not surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required.
Practice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. With appropriate hand hygiene, gloves are not necessary for workers not already required to wear them. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. 
Key times to clean hands include: 
Before and after pilotage assignments
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After using the restroom
Before eating and before and after preparing food
Before and after putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings or personal protective equipment (PPE) (if applicable).
After touching objects which have been handled by coworkers, such as tools, equipment, or surfaces


Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Use tissues when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face. Throw tissues in the trash and wash your hands.