Safe Operating Practice 9-98

 Temporary Shelter for Foreign Vessel Crew

Revised January 13, 2005

Issue:  Presently, there are no established emergency temporary shelter/housing arrangements for foreign crew members aboard foreign vessels marooned in Hawaiian waters.

Discussion:  Safe Operating Practice 9-98 addressing temporary shelter arrangements for foreign crews marooned in Hawaii ports is no longer valid due to the loss of the temporary living quarters outlined therein. World events concerning homeland security since September 11, 2001 , and changes in ownership of the previously identified shelter, have significantly reduced the universe of potential housing solutions.

HOST Recommendations:

1.      Create standard procedures and guidelines for temporary housing of marooned crews of foreign flag vessels.

2.   Capture the procedures and guidelines in the HOST Safe Operating Practice Handbook.

Resolution:  Government and industry stakeholders have developed the following guidelines.

Temporary Shelter for Marooned Foreign Vessel Crews

1. Notification: Appropriate notifications to all controlling agencies must be made before housing marooned foreign national crews of foreign flag vessels. Notification will normally coordinated by the Coast Guard and vessel agent.

The following agencies shall be notified:

861-8531 U.S. Public Health service (USPHS)

237-4601 Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

842-2606 USCG (Sector Honolulu )

Local consular services/respective government representative.

 2. Transportation:                                                                     

a.       Vessel agents will normally be responsible to provide transportation to and from the temporary shelter.

b.      In cases involving high seas rescue resulting in foreign nationals being brought to Oahu without the support of the vessel agent, U.S. Coast Guard and CBP will coordinate transportation to the temporary shelter.

3.  Shelter Location: No pre-identified temporary shelter is currently available. Increased security measures following the events of 9/11/2001, and other logistics difficulties, preclude the ready establishment of a specific shelter. Pending a more definitive solution, CBP advises that agency will pursue marooned sailor accommodation on a case-by-case basis as the need arises.

4.  Supplies:  The vessel agent will normally provide food and clothing. In emergency cases, dependant upon availability, Coast Guard Integrated Support Command (ISC) Sand Island may supply bedding and other essentials from stocks held for Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations (AMIO).

5.  USPHS Inspection: In order to safeguard public health, foreign nationals must be inspected by the USPHS for the presence of communicable/contagious diseases prior to departure for temporary lodging.