礼德公告（双语）| 航运警示 – 新型冠状病毒与香港旗船的海员

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世界卫生组织（“世卫”）于2020年1月30日（星期四）宣布新型冠状病毒（或“2019-nCoV”）疫情为国际公共卫生紧急事件（“世卫建议”）[1]。

The World Health Organization has, on Thursday, 30 January 2020, declared that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“2019-nCoV”) constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (“WHO advice”) [1].

美国 —— 2020年1月31日，美国卫生及公共服务部部长Alex Azar在白宫演说中，宣布新型冠状病毒疫情在美国被视为公共卫生紧急事件[2]。

United States - The novel coronavirus has been declared a public health emergency in the United States, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a White House briefing on Friday, 31 January 2020[2].

香港特别行政区 —— 2020年1月31日（星期五），香港特别行政区政府宣布参照世卫建议，加强疾病预防和控制措施，包括更多的边境管制[3]。

Hong Kong - The Government announced on Friday, 31 January 2020 that it has enhanced disease prevention and control measures with reference to WHO's advice, including more border control restrictions[3].

新加坡 —— 2020年1月31日（星期五），新加坡宣布所有在过去14日内到访过中国内地的旅客，将不准入境新加坡或在新加坡转机[4]。

Singapore - All travellers arriving from mainland China who had been there in the past 14 days will be barred from entry or transit in Singapore, as announced on Friday, 31 January 2020[4].

有鉴于世卫建议，香港旗船的船东及其保赔协会应重新评估其对雇佣的海员之健康及安全的责任。

Following the WHO advice, shipowners of HKSAR flag vessels and their P&I Clubs may wish to reassess their obligations in respect of the health and safety of their seafarers.

基于惯例，香港旗船雇用的海员须遵守《海员就业协议》（“SEA”）和《集体谈判协议》（“ CBA”）（该文件应当提交海事处海员事务部），其中明确包含了香港特别行政区法例《雇员补偿条例》（第282章）和《2006 年海事劳工公约》（“MLC”）适用。根据《雇员补偿条例》及香港的案例，不论海员的国籍，以及该海员可能在个别雇佣合约中订立的任何仲裁条款，香港法院仍就审理相关案件拥有司法管辖权，且《雇员补偿条例》所规定的补偿制度将适用。除了受《雇员补偿条例》的保障外，海员同时受惠于MLC中适用条款所述权益。

As a matter of standard practice, seafarers employed by HKSAR flagged vessels are subject to Seafarers Employments Agreements (“SEA”) and Collective Bargaining Agreements (“CBA”) (which are submitted to the Marine Department Crew Affairs Department). These expressly incorporate the HKSAR Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap.282) (“ECO”) and the international Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (“MLC”). Under the ECO and case law in HKSRA, regardless of the nationalities of the seafarers and any arbitration clause in the individual employment contract the particular seafarer might have signed, the Hong Kong Court will still assume jurisdiction to hear any matter and the compensatory regime under ECO will apply. Apart from the protections under the ECO, seafarers are also entitled to the benefits pursuant to the applicable articles under the MLC.

在众多问题中，船东可能面临的直接问题是更换海员。我们理解部分客户正考虑完全停止海员更换，以大幅减少2019-nCoV传播的风险。然而，客户也必须考虑这种做法可能导致的法律后果，即该做法可能违反MLC、CBA和SEA有关船上海员服务期限总计不得超过12个月的规定。在回应香港船东协会的询问时，香港特别行政区政府海事处答复现正在研究该问题，将制定相应措施根据具体情况个别处理。如有疑问，可直接发送电子邮件质询（[e-mail]）[5]。

Amongst others, an immediate issue shipowners may face relates to crew changes. Whilst we understand some clients are considering the complete stoppage of crew changes so as to substantially reduce the risks of the spread of 2019-nCoV, such steps may contravene the MLC, CBA and SEA which provide that the service period for seafarers onboard vessels shall not exceed 12 months in total. In response to an enquiry from the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association, the Hong Kong Marine Department replied that they are now looking into this issue and will work out measures. The Hong Kong Marine Department may handle each enquiry on a case by case basis and you can make such enquiries by writing to the following email address [e-mail][5].

在厘清相关法律及其他规管指引雇员责任之前，为了确保海员在疫情期间的身心健康，国际贸易协会联盟（“ITF”）[6]根据世卫建议发布了一系列建议措施。就海员方面，ITF也参考了国际海运健康协会的指引，对航运业、海员及码头工人提出以下具体建议：

Until legal and regulatory guidelines are in place to assist with clarification of employment obligations, in order to ensure the well-being of seafarers during this crisis, the International Trade Federation (ITF) [6] has issued recommendations following the WHO advice and, in respect of seafarers, referring to the guidelines issued by the International Health Maritime Association. The International Health Maritime Association has the following specific comments for the maritime industry, seafarers and dock workers.

• 请勿限制未受影响港口的海员上船/下船。

  Do not restrict embarkation/disembarkation of seafarers in non-affected ports.

• 请勿限制港口代理、服务人员和其他人员进行必要的船舶探访。

  Do not restrict necessary ship visits by port agents, chaplains, service personnel and others.

• 请勿走访中国的食品市场，并避免提供中国的鱼类及家禽食品。

  Do not visit food markets in China and avoid provision of fish and poultry in China.

• 请勿进食未经煮熟的鸡蛋、牛奶及肉类。

  Do not consume raw eggs, milk, meat.

• 请严格准从食物卫生，以预防交叉感染。

  Observe strict food hygiene to avoid cross contamination.

• 请确保每位海员都得到面部防护工具（每人5件）。

  Ensure facial protection is provided for all crew (5 pieces/per person).

• 请供流感疫苗、酒精洗手液及面部防护工具予需要到访中国的船舶监督与海员。

  Provide influenza vaccination, alcohol-based hand sanitiser and facial protection for ship inspectors and other crew who travel to China.

• 如果海员在船上感到不适，并在上船前2到12天内到访过受影响的地区，该海员必须留在其船舱。

  If a crew member on board falls sick and has been travelling to affected areas 2-12 days before embarkation, the person must stay in his/her cabin.

• 如果海员在船上感到不适，请填写海事健康申报表格及通知当地政府，并于下一个港口就医。

  If a crew member is sick on board a ship, fill out the maritime declaration of health and notify the relevant port authority and consult a healthcare providers in the next port.

船东应注意，大部分租船合同都包含一项保证，即船东应在整个租船期间保持船长、高级船员和船员的充分及有效候补人员。如果船长或其他船员因2019-nCoV而丧失工作能力，而救援船员未能及时补上，则船东可能因为海员不足而违反租船合同。

Shipowners should be aware that most charterparties contain a warranty that the shipowner shall maintain throughout the charter period a full and efficient complement of master, officers and crew. If the Master or other crew members were to become incapacitated due to 2019-nCoV, and relief crew not be made available, there is a risk of breach of the charterparty if the efficiency of the seafarers is in issue.

船东亦需注意，如果船员在一个港口感染了新型冠状病毒，就有可能面临不安全港口的索赔，船舶随后在第二个港口也需要接受检疫。上述的保证和不安全港口问题都涉及专业，我们建议船东和承租人向礼德律师事务所航运团队寻求专业意见。

Shipowners should also be aware that there is a risk of an unsafe port claim if crew are infected at one port with 2019-nCoV, and the ship is subsequently subject to quarantine at a second port. Both the above mentioned warranty and unsafe port issues are specialist issues and shipowners and charterers are recommended to seek advice from the Reed Smith shipping team.

最后，一般来说，由于船东负责海员的安全和健康，因此船东应确保船舶采取足够的预防及保护措施，以避免海员受到感染。同时，船东应与其相应的保赔协会联系，以确保保险充分涵盖有关海员的所有潜在风险。

Last but not least, as shipowners are generally responsible for seafarers’ health and safety they should ensure that sufficient precautions and protective measures are in place to avoid the risk of infection. Shipowners should liaise with their P&I clubs so that all potential risks related to seafarers in this respect are addressed.   

扫描下方二维码，查看有关信息资源

Scan the QR codes below to view the relevant resources

世界卫生组织

World Health Organization

国际海运健康协会

International Maritime Health association

ITF海员

ITF Seafarers 

电子版香港法例

Hong Kong e-Legislation

世界卫生组织建议[1]

WHO advice[1]

美国白宫政府[2]

Whitehouse.gov[2]

香港特别行政区政府[3]

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [3]

《海峡时报》[4]

The Straits Times[4]

香港特别行政区政府海事处[5]

Marine Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region[5]

国际贸易协会联盟[6]

International Transport Workers' Federation[6]

礼德律师事务所处理海员雇佣及船舶管理的团队成员

Reed Smith contacts for Hong Kong Crew Employment and Ship Management Practice Group 

李连君 (Lianjun Li )

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

合伙人、商业及航运诉讼部负责人

手机：[phone]
邮箱：[e-mail]

沈慧文（Asha Sharma）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

合伙人

手机：[phone]
邮箱：[e-mail]

李民（Min Li ）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

合伙人

手机：[phone]
邮箱：[e-mail]

Peter Glover

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

合伙人

手机：[phone]
邮箱：[e-mail]

Jason Toms

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

合伙人

手机：[phone]
邮箱：[e-mail]

杜洋洋（Janice Dao）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

顾问律师

手机：[phone]

邮箱：[e-mail]

谭亦非（Steve Tam）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

顾问律师

手机：[phone]

邮箱：[e-mail]

余晓辰（Cheryl Yu）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

顾问律师（注册外地律师 (中国)）

手机：[phone]

邮箱：[e-mail]

沈信安（Donald Sham）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

顾问律师

    手机：[phone]

邮箱：[e-mail]

姚家莉（Carrie Yiu）

礼德律师事务所香港办公室

顾问律师 

手机： [phone]      

邮箱：[e-mail]

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