corona virus alerts - Latest cruising Information for vessels/locations/rules

[Montanan]

Morrison and Ardern agree on pursuing a travel ‘bubble’ between New Zealand and Australia

Australia and New Zealand have reached a formal agreement to establish a trans-Tasman travel “bubble” as soon as it is safe to allow flights between the two countries.

After New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern dialled in to a meeting of Australia’s national cabinet on Tuesday, she and Scott Morrison issued a joint statement saying they would pursue a trans-Tasman Covid-safe travel zone once Australia and New Zealand had eased current lockdown restrictions.

Both prime ministers stressed travel between the two countries without a 14-day quarantine period would not happen imminently. Any move to open the international border would need to take into account state and territory movement restrictions in Australia.

. . .

Morrison stressed the proposed travel zone would not “happen next week”, but only when Australians were travelling interstate domestically.

“When we are seeing Australians travel from Melbourne to Cairns – at about that time I would expect, everything being equal – we would be able to fly from Melbourne to Auckland or Christchurch or things like that.”

. . .

“Once we have established effective travel arrangements across the Tasman, we will also explore opportunities to expand the concept to members of our broader Pacific family, enabling travel between Australia, New Zealand and Pacific island countries,” it said.

“We will work with interested Pacific countries on parameters and arrangements to manage the risks.

http://https://www.theguardian.com/w...d-ardern-agree

[Montanan]

Beginning Thursday morning, May 7, Maryland boaters can legally go out for a cruise or a sail once again. The ban on recreational boating will be lifted. And anglers can fish for sport, not just for sustenance.

On Wednesday afternoon Maryland Governor Larry Hogan lifted the ban on recreational boating that has been in effect for more than a month. As part of the state’s stay-at-home order, recreational boating was forbidden except for paddlesports (considered essential exercise) and those fishing for their supper.
Over the weeks, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources clarified specific exceptions to the ban, including permission to transport a boat home from a marina. But boating and fishing for pleasure remained banned. As of this week, Maryland was the only state in the country still restricting recreational boating.
The governor’s new directive, which takes effect at 7 p.m., expands outdoor recreational activities to include boating, fishing, golf, tennis and camping, in addition to outdoor exercise (like walking, hiking running and biking) defined as an essential activity throughout the stay-at-home order.
Under the new directive, state parks and state beaches are also reopening for exercise.

https://chesapeakebaymagazine.com/ma...ng-ban-lifted/

[JPA Cate]

Our friend in Horta reports today that she will be allowed to stay until the Azores High re-establishes itself. There is room for about 14 boats to anchor in the harbor. That is all. There are 8 in there now.

Ann

[Montanan]

Brazil has extended the border closure.

As per Government Ordinance 201 and 203 published on 24th April 2020 and 29th April 2020 in Art. 2, Federal Government has restricted foreigners from entering Brazil by air or waterway (vessel) for a period of thirty days, regardless of their nationality. The exceptions given in the Art. 4 of both Ordinances are as follows:
I - Brazilian or naturalized;
II - Immigrant with permanent residence;
III - Foreign professional on an international service mission, since duly identified;
IV - Foreign employee accredited to the Brazilian government;
V - Foreigner:
a) Spouse, partner, son, father or responsible for a Brazilian;
b) Whose entry is authorized by the Brazilian government in view of public interest;
c) Bearer of the National Migration Registry

https://www.wilhelmsen.com/ships-age...ronavirus-map/

[Montanan]

Northeast: Coronavirus-Related Restrictions By State
May 6, 2020
NPR

Part of a series on coronavirus-related restrictions across the United States.

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/01/84733...tions-by-state

[Montanan]

Which States Are Reopening? A State-By-State Guide
May 6, 2020
NPR

Each day brings changes. NPR is tracking developments in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia so you can see what's changed and how states compare.

http://https://www.npr.org/2020/03/1...ng-coronavirus

[Montanan]

EU and Schengen States - Desire for coordinated renormalization of border restrictions post Covid-19 dangers.

"We now need to get back to the future, back to normality. And we need to do so as soon as the health situation allows it," said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.

"Member states introduced different measures in an uncoordinated manner. Unwinding these different national restrictions will take some time, but we can do it."

The European Commission wants member states to start gradually lifting national border controls and next week will issue guidelines amounting to a balancing act between avoiding a fresh wave of infections and allowing economies to revive.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/eu-must-b...150009579.html

[Montanan]

Professional cargo seafarers have it rough too during Covid-19 travel restrictions.

More than one million cargo ship workers are working seven days a week because the coronavirus pandemic means they're not being allowed to disembark. There are about 50,000 merchant vessels in the world, and each vessel has an average crew of 22 people. There are currently about 1.6 million seafarers caught in limbo. Typically, at the end of any given month, 100,000 sailors complete their contracts and are replaced by new workers flown to ships.

During the current crisis, crew rotations have not been able to happen. Because since these workers are living in close quarters without much access to protective equipment, they're seen as potential coronavirus carriers.
By April, China had prevented foreigners from entering the country, and Greece, a gateway for cargo into Europe, banned workers from taking shore leave or ships from changing crews. Having contracts extended without a choice, and the uncertainty of when they'll have shore leave again, could exacerbate the problem. As for those who aren't continuing to work, the alternative — being stuck in a hotel without wages and the difficulty of getting flights home — is not much better.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Professional cargo seafarers have it rough too during Covid-19 travel restrictions.

More than one million cargo ship workers are working seven days a week because the coronavirus pandemic means they're not being allowed to disembark. There are about 50,000 merchant vessels in the world, and each vessel has an average crew of 22 people. There are currently about 1.6 million seafarers caught in limbo. Typically, at the end of any given month, 100,000 sailors complete their contracts and are replaced by new workers flown to ships.

During the current crisis, crew rotations have not been able to happen. Because since these workers are living in close quarters without much access to protective equipment, they're seen as potential coronavirus carriers.
By April, China had prevented foreigners from entering the country, and Greece, a gateway for cargo into Europe, banned workers from taking shore leave or ships from changing crews. Having contracts extended without a choice, and the uncertainty of when they'll have shore leave again, could exacerbate the problem. As for those who aren't continuing to work, the alternative — being stuck in a hotel without wages and the difficulty of getting flights home — is not much better.

you are quite right to bring up this shameful situation. however fortunately things are improving (slowly) at least here in australia

latest situation in queensland is below. this is now the situation in most aussie states ;

Queensland eases border restrictions for international seafarers
Crew changes for both on-signing and off-signing ship crews are now possible in Queensland following the entry into force of a new class exemption for non-cruise maritime crew.

New border rules from the Chief Health Officer supersede all the previous directions from that Officer. The new rules continue to impose a general ban (subject to a variety of exceptions) on anyone from overseas or from elsewhere within Australia entering Queensland.

But the rules now also give a “class exemption for non-cruise maritime crew”, which means that maritime crew can enter, travel around, and leave the state subject to certain conditions.

The new rules align with the decision of the National Cabinet to have uniform and consistent non-cruise seafarer crew change rules across the country.

cheers,

[Montanan]

Australia outlines 3 step plan to reopen

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/...ntl/index.html

https://twitter.com/Fi_Willan/status...611648/photo/1

Here are the steps Morrison outlined during his news conference:

Step 1:

Morrison said this will allow greater connections between friends and family
Gatherings of up to 10 people will be permitted
People will be allowed to welcome five guests in their homes
Children will be allowed to return to classrooms and playgrounds
Golf and swimming will be allowed to resume
Retail stores and small cafes and restaurants will be allowed to open
Intrastate recreational travel will be allowed
Up to 30 people will be allowed to attend funerals outdoors
Up to 10 people will be allowed to attend weddings outdoors

Step 2:

Gatherings of up to 20 people will be permitted, including for venues like movie theaters and galleries
More retail stores will be allowed to open, depending on the sector
Organized community sporting events will be allowed to resume
Beauty parlors can open

Step 3:

Gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed
Most workers will be allowed back into the workplace
Interstate travel will likely resume
Bars and clubs can open, but with some restrictions

[Montanan]

What we all would hope to avoid. An interesting article.

Coronavirus lockdown sends solo sailor on Pacific odyssey

By Yvette Tan
BBC News

One man's dream to spend three years sailing solo around the Pacific nearly turned to disaster after borders started closing around the region, leaving him stranded alone at sea for three months.

While people around the globe were panic buying and stocking up, he was running low on food and fuel as he sailed between islands trying to find somewhere to dock.

The plan was to sail from Singapore to Polynesia, a journey that would take about four months, in his yacht. Once there, he would spend time exploring the region by land and sea.

But he would soon learn that even the best laid plans could go awry - especially in the face of a global pandemic.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52571918

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Montanan

What we all would hope to avoid. An interesting article.

Coronavirus lockdown sends solo sailor on Pacific odyssey

By Yvette Tan
BBC News

One man's dream to spend three years sailing solo around the Pacific nearly turned to disaster after borders started closing around the region, leaving him stranded alone at sea for three months.

While people around the globe were panic buying and stocking up, he was running low on food and fuel as he sailed between islands trying to find somewhere to dock.

The plan was to sail from Singapore to Polynesia, a journey that would take about four months, in his yacht. Once there, he would spend time exploring the region by land and sea.

But he would soon learn that even the best laid plans could go awry - especially in the face of a global pandemic.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52571918

HAHA - Just read that.


I can't figure what all the issues were about - He had been at sea for well longer than 14 days and no one would let him in - The world has gone mad.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Montanan

What we all would hope to avoid. An interesting article.

Coronavirus lockdown sends solo sailor on Pacific odyssey

By Yvette Tan
BBC News

One man's dream to spend three years sailing solo around the Pacific nearly turned to disaster after borders started closing around the region, leaving him stranded alone at sea for three months.

While people around the globe were panic buying and stocking up, he was running low on food and fuel as he sailed between islands trying to find somewhere to dock.

The plan was to sail from Singapore to Polynesia, a journey that would take about four months, in his yacht. Once there, he would spend time exploring the region by land and sea.

But he would soon learn that even the best laid plans could go awry - especially in the face of a global pandemic.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52571918

I'm actually getting tired of click bait on Cruiser's Forum

[jimbunyard]

Originally Posted by UFO

HAHA ....The world has gone mad.

Has gone?

[Montanan]

Britain plans to impose a two-week quarantine on people arriving in the country, other than from Ireland, in a bid to prevent a new wave of coronavirus infections, according to an airline industry group, Airlines UK.

The government is expected to provide details of its plans on Sunday, but the move highlights the acute challenge facing political leaders as they contemplate how to begin lifting the containment measures that have slowed the spread of the virus without unleashing a new surge in infections. In Britain's case, the plan also illustrates the imperatives and the difficulties of coordinating with neighboring countries and those with the closest or most numerous travel connections.

The EU has been trying to align the approaches of its 27 member countries, which together imposed a ban on non-essential travelers from outside the bloc. At that time, the EU announced it would treat U.K. citizens the same as EU residents. But the U.K., which quit the EU earlier this year, now has responsibility for its own arrangements. It must take particular account of Ireland because of the two countries' Common Travel Area.

http://https://www.yahoo.com/news/uk...141222490.html