News

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak,
vessels calling in Lomé (Togo) must send the following documents to their agents
72 hours before their expected time of arrival:

• Crew list specifying
  joining date and port of each crew member.
• Form from Ministry of Health
  indicating the itinerary of each crew member or passenger over the last 30
  days duly completed and signed by the vessel’s Master.
• List of the last ten (10)
  ports of call.
• Maritime Health Declaration.

Vessels whose ETA from a
neighbouring port is less than 72 hours away must email all the above documents
to their Lomé ship agent as soon as they sail from the previous port.

The vessel’s Master must also
alert his Lomé ship agent to any suspected COVID-19 case on board.

The documents received from
the vessel will first be checked by Lomé Port Control and then forwarded to
Lomé Port Health Services so that they can decide under what conditions the
vessel will be allowed to enter Lomé waters or port:

• If there is no ascertained risk
  of infection, the vessel will follow normal berthing procedures as soon as the
  Health Services have been on board.
• If there is a minor risk of
  infection, the vessel will not be allowed to enter Lomé waters or port until
  the Health Services have disinfected the vessel, and no other parties will be
  allowed to embark or disembark.
• If there is a proven risk of infection, stronger measures will be taken, and the vessel may be banned
  from entering Lomé waters or port.

 A sample of a circular issued
by one Lomé agent is to be found here.

Our Lomé office has also
provided a copy of the form provided by the Ministry of Health concerning the
movements of crew members and passengers.

Information provided by Budd Togo
budd.togo@budd-pni.com