Notice to Vessels and Agents in Response to COVID-19

July 2020

In response to the COVID-19 virus, please find sanitary and operating instructions for vessels using pilots in the San Francisco Bay Area. These instructions are expected to be followed prior to and while the pilot is aboard to decrease the possibility of spreading the virus and protect both the crew and pilots.

1. In the hour prior to pilot boarding, wipe down the entire bridge with a disinfectant designed to remove viruses or use a 5% solution of bleach water. (Chart table, radar, VHF Radios, binoculars, chairs, helm, entire console, windows, etc.)

2. If your vessel has an elevator, wipe down the elevator controls, handles and other frequently touched surfaces with disinfectant. For physical distancing, the pilot will ride the elevator alone.

3. If your vessel does not have an elevator, wipe down the staircase handrails with disinfectant. Please disinfect both interior and exterior handrails. The pilot will use exterior ladders if it is safe to do so.

4. When the pilot boards, work with the pilot to designate a space and radar for the pilot to use. Provide the pilot with a sanitized work area that only the pilot will be using.

5. Instruct crew members to wash their hands and face prior to entering the bridge and have hand sanitizer available for the pilot to use on entering the bridge.

6. Instruct crew to wash or sanitize their hands after they touch their face.

7. Provide liquid hand soap and paper towels for the bridge toilet. Pilots will not use a communal cloth towel or bar of soap.

8. Limit personnel on the bridge to only those required to maintain a full navigational watch.

9. To prevent the risk of exposure, the pilot and crew are to maintain a 2 Meter (6 ft) separation when possible.

10. The pilot may require the ship’s bridge crew to wear face coverings while the pilot is aboard especially when the conditions of the bridge may prevent proper physical distancing. The vessel must have proper face coverings available for all bridge personnel.

11. Follow all required USCG instructions for reporting crew members suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms. Inform the pilot if any of your crew are displaying symptoms and do not allow them in any space the pilot will occupy.

12. Pilots are screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to dispatching for the day and will not be dispatched for work if they have symptoms or have had Close Contact Exposure with someone that has the COVID-19 virus.

We thank you for your assistance.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at operations@sfbarpilots.com.