Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.

As the number of new cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) continues to rise, the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) has been making every effort to stop new cases of this dangerous virus at the border through vigorous checks of inbound ship passengers and crew. Furthermore, the emergency response team established by TIPC on January 22nd has been tasked with coordinating response measures to any outbreak of serious pneumonia symptoms at one or more of Taiwan’s international commercial ports.

TIPC is using promotional space and facilities such as digital billboards and scrolling text banners at points of entry used by international cruise ship and cross-Strait ferry passengers to bolster immigration health-related education. TIPC is also providing protective face masks to passengers who need them; collecting completed health declaration cards and health history statements from passengers on behalf of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC); encouraging all passengers who experience fever or a persistent cough while onboard to self-report, wear a face mask, and check in with the quarantine station; and ensuring that contracted service staff clean and disinfect the passenger processing area after processing each vessel arrival / departure.

With regard to the health of commercial vessel crews, TIPC’s VTS assistance service transmits hourly information on virus prevention in both Chinese and English to shipboard AIS transceivers, and TIPC asks each ship to radio in any reports of health issues onboard. Moreover, shipping agents are reminded during daily berth assignment briefings to regularly encourage vessel crew to self-report abnormal health symptoms and to maintain consistently high levels of health management.

Upon arrival in port, every captain must submit a signed declaration of maritime health form to their agent for forwarding to TCDC. All issues of health-related discomfort among the crew included in this or other documents are forwarded by shipping agents to TCDC.

TIPC has stressed that the danger of this coronavirus outbreak is to be fought as diligently as any preventive war. TIPC stands on the front lines and is bringing the latest and most effective techniques to the fight. In addition to TIPC’s emergency response team keeping close tabs on arriving passengers and crew at all of Taiwan’s international commercial ports, senior officials at each TIPC subsidiary port organization have stepped up supervision of frontline staff to ensure the highest standards of virus prevention and control and to prevent new cases of this and other viruses from arriving in Taiwan by sea.

Provided by：Occupational Safety Department, TIPC
Contact Person：Wei-chien Chang, Senior Manager
Telephone No.：07-5219000#3500
E-mail Address：wei@twport.com.tw