The Catalan Civil Protection Plan (Procicat) has today approved the publication of the procedure for cruise ships to return to Catalonia this summer season. Specifically, it has validated the procedure that shipping companies must follow to obtain authorization for European-flagged cruises operating between ports in Catalonia.
To make this possible, shipping companies must submit a request to the Ministry of Public Health for acceptance of the protocol for action and notification that must be followed for the disembarkation of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the management of contacts within their territorial jurisdiction. This request must be submitted 20 days prior to the start of the cruise or the first port of call, and the Ministry of Public Health must respond within a maximum of five days.
In the application (downloadable at https://bit.ly/3fcPHVM) shipping companies must explain the activity that the cruise will carry out, providing the detailed itinerary (indicating the dates and ports on the Catalan coast where stops will be made), the program of activities for the passengers and the characteristics of the ship itself (maximum authorized passenger and crew capacity and maximum number of passengers and crew with whom it intends to operate in Catalonia).
In addition, the shipping company must submit a health plan for the prevention and mitigation of health risks arising from COVID-19. This plan will describe the health resources available on board and the onboard diagnostic capacity using various types of tests for active infection. It will also establish the planned capacity limits for different spaces, areas, and services, both common and private (such as cabins), the signage and information provided to passengers and crew regarding the measures to be followed, the hygiene measures on board, the cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation plans, and the procedures for minimizing contact between crew and passengers.
Finally, the cruise agent must submit a declaration of responsibility indicating: the health center contracted by the shipping company to treat COVID-19 patients who disembark and for the referral of suspected cases for diagnostic confirmation; an arranged accommodation plan for asymptomatic patients or those who do not require hospital admission; an accommodation plan for close contacts who may have to quarantine, if necessary, before returning to their home or on the ship; as well as the insurance contracted to cover all expenses arising in the contracted centers, both health and accommodation.
