Updated ZIKA Virus Chinese Quarantine Authorities, Requires Mosquito Eradication Certificate for Vessels from ZIKA Affected Areas, – Adding Singapore as ZIKA affected Area
We would like to draw your attention to Japan P&I News No.809 dated 28 March 2016 and No.839 dated 30 August.
We have obtained the information on the captioned topic by our correspondent in China, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd. Please find the attached circular.
In this circular, Huatai contacted with CIQ (China quarantine authorities) to check how they treat Singapore, one of the biggest bunkering ports in the world;
- MEC (mosquito eradication certificate) is required if vessel’s last port of call is a Zika affected country / area such as Singapore. MEC could be issued either by local authorities or by third party disinfection companies at Zika affected areas.
- However, it would not be considered an actual port of call if the vessel calls a Singapore only for bunkering, without person embarkation / disembarkation or cargo loading / discharging operation.
- As such, if vessel’s previous port of call is not a Zika affected area before bunkering at Singapore, MEC is not required.
Huatai contacted with several CIQ offices and advises that the detailed requirement of different CIQ offices at different port may vary, thus Owners are suggested to check with local agent once port of call in China is fixed for further clarification in advance.
Also Huatai advises that MEC had better include vessel’s details (vessel’s name, port of destination, cargo on board, time of loading etc.) and description to the effect that “The Certificate shall certify the subject vessel was disinfected against mosquito before departure” in order to avoid any problems when vessels call Chinese ports.
We hope it will be of help to you with regard to the safe voyage.