News: South Korea Covid-19 updated quarantine requirements

We are informed by our correspondent that all foreigners, including on-signing seafarers, arriving at South Korean airports from 8 January 2021 are required to submit a PCR negative test certificate taken at any testing facilities within 72 hours prior to departure.

Further, all foreigners, including ships' crews, who board ships in foreign ports as of 15 January 2021 and then arrive at South Korean ports are required to submit a PCR negative test certificate taken at any testing facilities within 72 hours prior to departure.

Additionally, all foreigners, including ships' crews, arriving at South Korean airports and ports from high-risk countries (currently listed as Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Uzbekistan and Nepal) plus Russian ports are required to submit a PCR negative test certificate (a QR code is required for Russia) taken at a testing facilities designated by Korean embassies within 72 hours prior to departure.

The PCR negative test result certificate should be issued in Korean or in English. If the certificate is issued in another language, it will need to be submitted together with a translation in Korean or in English along with a translation authentication document i.e notarisation by an agency or embassy. This is unless the translation is done by a recognized translation office.

In the event of improper PCR negative test result certificates (such as those issued in excess of 72 hours from departure or issued at an undesignated testing facilities that is not approved by South Korean embassies) or there is a failure to submit certificates then:

(a) All crew members will be prohibited from disembarking

(b) Crew members that submitted the improper PCR negative test result certificate(s) will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing by 'specimen method'

(c) Ship operations shall only commence after confirmation of a COVID-19 negative test result (all works are suspended before negative results are confirmed)

(d) The crew members could be fined or charged under local law.

In the meantime, it is reported that port operations are currently continuing without further restrictions.

We advise the club’s members to contact their local agents for the latest information on the requirements prior to calling at Korean ports in order to avoid possible delays. ​

We thank our correspondent Hyopsung Surveyors & Adjusters Corporation for their update.

Category: COVID-19