On Feb.
1, 2017, gCaptain printed a sobering
article concerning the impact of the president’s order on immigration and
travel on U.S. shipping, at http://gcaptain.com/trumps-immigration-ban-and-its-implications-for-the-maritime-industry/. The entire content of the article is
reprinted below, with permission.
FSOs who foresee an upcoming ban-related
problem with mariners should immediately contact the local COTP for guidance.
“President Trump’s Executive Order on
immigration and travel to the United States has immediate implications for
ships calling at U.S. ports, particularly those ships with crew members hailing
from any one of the seven countries whose citizens are banned under the order,
P&I clubs are warning.
As the Executive Order bans entry into the US
for citizens from Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Libya for the
next 90 days, crewmembers aboard ships entering US waters who are citizens of
these countries will be denied entry to the US during this time, says The
Standard Club, a specialist marine and energy insurer. The club is telling its
members to anticipate that shore leave will be denied for those crewmembers and
that enhanced security of the ship, including the use of armed guards, may be
ordered by local immigration officials while the ship is in a U.S. port.
At this time however, it is not believed that
ships carrying crew from these countries will be denied entry into U.S. ports,
The Standard Club said.
The UK P&I Club offered similar guidance
to its members.
“For the next 90 days crewmembers from Syria,
Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Libya, whether or not they hold visas,
will be denied entry to the U.S.,” the UK P&I Club wrote in a alert to
members. The club is warning members to avoid crew changes in the United States
for those citizens of the seven countries targeted by the order.
Regarding medical emergencies, both the UK
P&I Club and The Standard Club say if a crewmember from Syria, Yemen,
Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Libya requires emergency medical treatment while
in the United, there is an exception under the order that MAY allow the
crewmember to be removed from the ship for medical treatment.
The Executive Order says that the Departments
of State and Homeland Security (CBP) may determine on a case by case basis to
issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which
visas and benefits are otherwise blocked. Therefore, government authorities may
be able to use the exception to allow the crewmember to be treated in the U.S.
if there is a true medical emergency.
At this time it is unclear how many ships and
crew members may be impacted by the Executive Order.
Both the UK P&I Club and The Standard Club
say they will continue to monitor the situation and update its members with any
developments.
In addition to banning citizens from the seven
countries for 90 days, the Executive Order also bars the entry of refugees from
Syria indefinitely and stops admission of all refugees to the United States for
the next four months, among other things.”
