Guidance for Marine Vessels: How to use the Maritime Declaration of Health

Under the federal Quarantine Act, the operator of a cruise ship shall, as soon as possible and before the vessel arrives at its first port of arrival in Canada, or departs its last port in Canada, inform a quarantine officer of any reasonable grounds to suspect that

  1. any person, cargo or other thing on board the conveyance could cause the spreading of a communicable disease listed in the schedule;
  2. a person on board the conveyance has died

The operator shall answer any relevant questions asked by a screening officer, a quarantine officer, or an environmental health officer and provide the officer with any information or record in the operator’s possession that the officer may reasonably require in the performance of a duty under the Quarantine Act.

PHAC uses the Maritime Declaration of Health for marine operators to fulfill their obligations under the Quarantine Act.

Gastrointestinal illness reporting should continue to be submitted electronically through the Public Health Agency of Canada – Gastrointestinal Illness Surveillance System.

Complete the forms

You will have to complete the following forms if you have travellers or crew exhibiting signs or symptoms 24 to 48 hours before entering Canadian waters or at your last international marine port (if less than 24 hours), or as soon as possible before departing your last port in Canada:

Operators can refer to the Guidance for marine operators: Reporting illness on onboard webpage for reportable signs and symptoms.

Maritime Declaration of Health

Complete sections A to F

Login to the following web link:

English: Maritime Declaration of Health

French: Déclaration maritime de santé

Annex A

To be completed if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases onboard; can be accessed at the following web links:

English: Annex A: Marine Vessel Covid-19 Reporting Form

French: Annexe A : Formulaire de déclaration de cas de COVID-19 à bord d’un navire

If there are confirmed or suspected cases on board, the Annex A Case Reporting Form must also be completed and attached to your Annex A submission.

If you need to request a copy of the forms please contact CNS/SNC at the following email: cns-snc@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Annex B

To be completed if there are signs and symptoms of a communicable disease other than COVID-19 onboard; can be accessed at the following web links:

English: Annex B: Marine Vessel Communicable Disease Reporting Form

French: Annexe B : Formulaire de déclaration de cas de maladie transmissible à bord d’un navire

The Annex B Case Reporting Form must also be completed and attached to your Annex B submission.

If you need to request a copy of the forms please contact CNS/SNC at the following email: cns-snc@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

A quarantine officer will issue a PHAC reference number (CVR2-0000XXXXX), review the information, and follow up with the operator if they have any further questions.

Contact information:

A quarantine officer can be reached 24/7 by phone at 1-833-615-2384 or by email between 08:00 and 00:00 eastern time at CNS / SNC (PHAC/ASPC) cns-snc@phac-aspc.gc.ca. Please provide your PHAC reference number (CVR2-0000XXXXX) when available.