Updated guidance to vessel crew members and non-crew marine sector workers respecting entry into Canada - SSB No.: 03/2021

Purpose

This Ship Safety Bulletin is to bring to your attention relevant requirements specified in Public Health Agency of Canada Orders-in-Council related to existing and intended vessel crew members, and to essential service marine sector workers, seeking entry into Canada.

Note to reader:

This Ship Safety Bulletin is intended to provide guidance respecting the entry requirements of vessel crew members and non-crew marine sector workers into Canada. If a conflict exists between this document and with any Order-in-Council requirement, the Order-in-Council requirements prevail.

Scope

This Bulletin applies to:

A member of a crew as defined in subsection 3 (1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations or a person who enters Canada only to become a member of such a crew.

Marine sector workers determined by the Chief Public Health Officer as providing an essential service, being in the trade or transportation sector important for the movement of goods or people.

Any person who will, as determined by the Minister of Transport in consultation with the Minister of Health, respond to, investigate, or prevent significant disruptions to the effective continued operation of the national transportation system, transportation undertakings or infrastructure.

What you need to know

All travelers to Canada must respect all entry requirements to Canada, pursuant to:

Orders In Council - PC Number: 2021-0077;

Orders In Council - PC Number: 2021-0076, and

Orders In Council - PC Number: 2021-0075

Travel to canada as vessel crew, or to become vessel replacement crew:

Asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19 carrying seafarers travelling to Canada as vessel crew, or to become vessel replacement crew, entering by either air or by land, are exempt from:

• the otherwise applicable requirement to provide proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result. (Click here for additional information);
• the otherwise applicable requirement to be subject to a post-arrival COVID-19 molecular test;
• the otherwise applicable requirement to quarantine upon entry into Canada, in accordance to with the published quarantine exemption list; and
• if arriving by air, the otherwise applicable requirement to stay in a government-approved facility.
• Note: Although your reason for entering Canada may fall under an exemption, you may still have to follow certain provincial and/or territorial restrictions.

Travel to canada as a non-crew marine sector worker providing an essential service in the trade or transportation sector important for the movement of goods or people:

Asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19 carrying, non-crew marine sector workers providing an essential service in the trade or transportation sector important for the movement of goods or people, travelling to Canada, either by air or by land, depending on the nature of their work in Canada, may or may not be exempt from:

The otherwise applicable requirement to provide proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result. (Click here for additional information);

• the otherwise applicable requirement to be subject to a post-arrival COVID-19 molecular test;
• the otherwise applicable requirement to quarantine upon entry into Canada, in accordance to with the published quarantine exemption list.
• Note: Although your reason for entering Canada may fall under an exemption, you may still have to follow certain provincial and territorial restrictions.

Note: While not solely of application to marine sector workers, pursuant to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Order-in-Council 2021-0075, the Chief Public Health Officer has determined that the following class of persons are exempt from quarantine:

Technicians or specialists specified by a government, manufacturer, or company, who enter Canada as required for the purpose of maintaining, repairing, installing or inspecting equipment necessary to support critical infrastructure (Energy and Utilities, Information and Communication Technologies, Finance, Health, Food, Water, Transportation, Safety, Government and Manufacturing) and are required to provide their services within 14 days of their entry to Canada and have reasonable rationales for the immediacy of the work and the inability to plan for a 14 day quarantine.

In order to be exempt from the requirement to quarantine for 14 days prior to commencing work in Canada, non-crew marine sector workers must provide to the Canada Border Services Agency officer a reasonable rationale why their services in the marine sector are required right away and why they are unable to plan for quarantine prior to commencing work. The final decision whether the exemption applies under the circumstances belongs to the Canada Border Services Agency officer and/or a Public Health Agency of Canada quarantine officer.

Non-crew marine sector workers arriving to provide essential services are exempt from:

• the otherwise applicable requirement to be subject to a post-arrival COVID-19 molecular test; and
• if arriving by air, the otherwise applicable requirement to stay in a government approved facility.

Persons who will, as determined by the Minister of Transport in consultation with the Minister of Health, respond to, investigate, or prevent significant disruptions to the effective continued operation of the national transportation system, transportation undertakings or infrastructure:

Any person who will, as determined by the Minister of Transport in consultation with the Minister of Health, respond to, investigate, or prevent significant disruptions to the effective continued operation of the national transportation system, transportation undertakings or infrastructure, either by air or by land, are exempt from:

• having to provide proof of a negative pre-arrival COVID-19 molecular test result;
• the requirement to get tested for COVID-19 on arrival.

Documentation for any Marine Sector Worker (Crew or Otherwise) Travelling to Canada

In addition to any documents required by the Canadian Border Service Agency for entry into Canada, it is recommended that crew members of vessels, or those that will become vessel replacement crew, should carry with them documentation which identify the traveller as a seafarer, which could include:

• Seafarer Identity Document, issued in accordance with either the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, 1958 (ILO Convention No. 108) or  the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, 2003 (ILO Convention No. 185);
• a certificate of competency;
• proof of employment, such as a letter from a shipping agent;
• a discharge book.

In addition to any documents required by the Canadian Border Service Agency for entry into Canada, it is recommended that non-crew marine sector workers should carry with them sufficient documentation to demonstrate the purpose of the travel, which can include:

• proof of employment such as work orders, detailing the nature and timing of the work to be performed.

Note: All individuals travelling to Canada by air, including crew members and other marine sector workers, must provide their health and contact information to the Public Health Agency of Canada using the ArriveCAN app or website prior to boarding their flight. Click here to access the ArriveCAN platform.

Marine Sector Workers Being Denied Entry into Canada or Being Denied Boarding of a Flight into Canada

Situations may arise where an asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19 carrying marine sector worker is being denied entry into Canada, or is being determined as subject to certain entry restrictions limiting their capacity to perform their intended marine sector duties in a timely manner following entry into Canada, or is being denied boarding of a flight into Canada, where entry is seemingly warranted per Public Health Agency of Canada Order-in-Council exemptions highlighted by this Ship Safety Bulletin. In some such circumstances, Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security may provide a letter of endorsement to provide additional supporting information for consideration by the border official to possibly facilitate entry or boarding, as the case may be. Ultimately, Canada Border Service Agency officials maintain the authority to determine any exemptions from the prohibition of entry, immigration admissibility, any applicable exemptions from testing or quarantine, and any associated customs requirements, even if presented with an endorsement letter from Transport Canada as referenced above.

To seek such a Transport Canada endorsement letter, please contact Transport Canada, by email at marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca.

• include in the e-mail Subject line the phrase “Marine Sector Entry Issue”
• provide a summary of the situation
• indicate if the traveler is a member or prospective member of a crew, or is a non-crew marine sector worker
• provide all relevant contact information, including the relevant intended workplace destination, and, as applicable, the relevant vessel to be attended; and

If exercising the privileges of a Canadian certificate of competency, please include:

• the relevant Candidate Document Number (“CDN Number”)
• the traveller’s date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD)
• the crewing designation denoted on the traveler’s certificate of competency, and
• the date of issuance (YYYY-MM-DD) of the certificate of competency; or

If exercising the privileges of a foreign certificate of competency, please include:

• the crewing designation denoted on the traveler’s foreign certificate of competency
• the name of the foreign certificate-issuing state
• the date that the certificate of competency was issued
• the name and contact information for the shipping agent, or company, etc. who is e-mailing Transport Canada on behalf of the traveller.

To request assistance during regular business hours or for non-urgent requests or questions, please email us at marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca.

If you require urgent assistance between 5:00pm and 8:00am EST, you may call Transport Canada Situation Centre at 1-888-857-4003.

Keywords

1. COVID-19
2. Crew Members
3. Asymptomatic

Questions concerning this Bulletin should be addressed to:

Contact us at: Email: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or Telephone: 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).