Coronavirus restrictions likely to affect shipping industry
The shipping industry must prepare for potential restrictions to prevent the further spread of the ‘Wuhan’ coronavirus, Hill Dickinson, a maritime law firm, advises.
Beth Bradley, a partner of the Liverpool (UK)-headquartered unit, said that shipping companies should be ready to face the same issues that arose in previous severe disease outbreaks, such as those caused by other coronaviruses or Ebola: infection of crew members, quarantine measures, closure of ports and possible repercussions on charter-party obligations.
“While this outbreak is not currently expected to cause the global complications experienced by the Ebola and Sars outbreaks, it is wise for ship operators and charterers to be prepared for any greater spread of this virus,” she says.
Delays caused by quarantines and deviations have a different impact under charter-parties. Under time charter-parties, when a vessel is delayed by a quarantine or is forced to deviate due to an infected crew member, the vessel may be placed off-hire, subject to the wording of the charter. (mw)