SailSAFE Our Health & Safety Plan for guests & crew
Welcome to our SailSAFE Plan As we prepare to restart operations and do so safely, we understand the new environment that the presence of COVID-19 has created. As always, it is our priority to keep our guests and crew safe while travelling with us. We want our guests and crew to have the greatest confidence that their safety and wellbeing have been thoroughly considered. To this end, we have put in place a range of measures and protocols to manage our expeditions in a world in which COVID-19 exists. We have partnered with Respond Global, an specialist medical advisory agency, to assist us in developing a prevention and response system that is among the most thorough in the world. Our plan focuses on prevention, to target a 100% COVID free environment when we set sail. We will implement a three-tiered medical screening protocol which includes testing for COVID-19, and will ensure that everyone on board will have passed through this screening process. This prevention protocol will be supported by strict onboard mitigation actions and an approved response plan. This plan will be supported by new Standard Operation Procedures, developed for each vessel with cruise specific requirements. We have maintained a high standard of safety and guest comfort for over 35 years - a record we are proud of. We trust this SailSAFE Plan offers you peace of mind as you plan your explorations of Australia’s coastline, and then the world, with Coral Expeditions. Thank you for your support and we look forward to welcoming you onboard soon.
Mark Fifield Group General Manager - Director
Specialist Medical Experts, Respond Global Respond Global provides solutions to health-related emergencies by empowering national and international organisations to deliver an effective, appropriate local response, when needed, supported by field-tested technical expertise. Their focus is on delivering customised programmes. Respond Global possess a unique blend of public health, disease outbreak, water and sanitation and maritime expertise, recently applied to numerous COVID-19 related response efforts. Respond Global has been actively involved in the COVID-19 response at the national and international levels including managing cruise ship COVID-19 outbreaks and implementing treatment and quarantine plans. Respond Global are currently working with the world’s leading public health experts in advising company boards internationally on how to re-establish their businesses post-COVID-19.
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Version 3 | Updated14/04/21
SailSAFE
Our Health & Safety Plan for guests & crew
SMALL SHIP EXPEDITIONS
PREVENTION ACTIONS
VISIT YOUR GP
REDUCE RISK
COVID-19 TESTING
TRAVEL SAFE
BOARD
to complete your health declaration
with 7 days of isolation pre-cruise
PCR test from 72-48 hours prior to voyage check-in
wash hands, wear a mask, and distance
if medically cleared to travel
PREPARE: 7 days before departure
Recommended to arrive day prior to departure
MITIGATION ACTIONS MEDIC onboard + temperature testing
SANITISATION new medical-grade protocols
DISTANCING open space on ship & shore
TRAINING for crew
TRANSFERS
FOOD SAFETY
HAND HYGIENE
SHORE VISIT
for guests to meet vessel
program and no buffets onboard
stations and equipment provided
protocols in remote locations
RESPONSE ACTIONS COVID RESPONSE PLAN
CLEAR COMMUNICATION
medically developed and Government approved in event of any incident
to guests onboard and shore support authorities
ENJOY A SAFE & MEMORABLE AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION.
MANDATORY HEALTH SCREENING TO ACHIEVE COVID FREE SHIPS
Before You Cruise: 7 Days - 24 Hours Before Departure All guests and crew must complete our pre-screening process.
1. LEVEL ONE SCREENING: VISIT YOUR GP Our SailSAFE Health Questionnaire has a number of steps that you will complete prior to your Level One Screening. At Level One Screening, your GP will be asked to complete Part C of the detailed questionnaire which Coral Expeditions will have supplied to you. This Level One medical should be conducted seven days prior to the departure of your expedition. Once completed, the questionnaire will be sent to Coral Expeditions’ medical practitioners to complete prior to boarding. 2. REDUCE RISK: SELF-ISOLATE BEFORE YOUR CRUISE We ask that all guests and crew self-isolate to the extent possible between their GP visit and arriving at the departure point of their cruise. We suggest the following approach: • Conduct only essential activities outside of your home • Limit your exposure to indoor public spaces or transport • Avoid large social gatherings. 3. LEVEL TWO SCREENING: GUEST PCR TEST PRIOR TO TRAVEL We ask that all guests take a COVID-19 PCR test 72-48 hours prior to check-in time. This test involves some small discomfort in gathering a nose and throat sample, but lasts only a matter of moments. You will receive your results, often via text message, and we require you to provide this proof of a negative result when you arrive for check-in. 4. TRAVEL SAFE TO YOUR DEPARTURE PORT To reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 as you travel to your cruise departure port, our recommendations include wearing a mask whilst travelling in public transport and in terminals, wash hands regularly, and physical distance in public spaces. 5. LEVEL TWO SCREENING: CLEARANCE TO TRAVEL Guests must arrive for check-in and clearance screening prior to embarkation. For each departure, a time and place will be advised. Please allow sufficient time for this when making travel arrangements. The Level Two health screening will be performed by a Coral Expeditions medical practitioner at check-in for your cruise to complete your health questionnaire and review your PCR test results. Please ensure you have your results with you, along with the details of the time and place you received your test. A negative test will be required to board for both guests and crew. At check-in guests will also sign a travel declaration acknowledging completion of pre-screening steps. If there are any significant health concerns raised at Level One or Level Two screening, guest/s will be asked to postpone their expedition or a refund offered if required. Health concerns include a positive result on the COVID-19 test or detected symptoms. 6. GROUP TRANSFERS TO VESSEL To maintain the safe travel environment, we will provide transfers when necessary to the vessel for all guests. These transfers will undergo hygiene and disinfection protocols as required, to maintain your safety at all times.
RISK MITIGATION THROUGH EXTENSIVE ONBOARD HEALTH PROTOCOLS
During Your Cruise While our focus is on prevention of COVID-19 from crossing the barrier to the ship, mitigation actions on board have also formed a large part of our SailSAFE program. Below is an overview of what you can expect on board to keep you safe. LEVEL THREE SCREENING & MEDICAL STAFF ONBOARD Voyages will have a medical professional onboard to administer Level Three screening and for medical support. We have expanded our medical equipment onboard. Level Three Screening will include a daily stop at our health check station to report any changes in health and receive a touchless temperature test. HAND AND RESPIRATORY HYGIENE Wash stations and Hand sanitizer throughout the vessel and masks will also be provided for all guests and crew if they become unwell or for those that choose to wear them onboard. PHYSICAL DISTANCING ONBOARD Onboard physical distancing will involve ensuring each guest or guest group has sufficient space during dining, lectures, and excursions. Our vessels are naturally spacious, but we will manage common spaces to provide the distancing equivalent to 4sqm per person in doors and separation of 1.5 metres. We will minimise the movement of large groups of people using staggered calls by deck or cabin number to group functions such as lectures and meals. For dining, expect to see both indoors and al fresco options. When going ashore aboard the Xplorer tenders, a safe distance between groups and multiple tender trips will be provided. ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING & DISINFECTION PROCEDURES Objects that are touched frequently like banisters and door handle will be cleaned and disinfected a minimum of 4 times daily. All surfaces will be cleaned in a two-part approach designed to rapidly act against COVID-19. We will implement ways to minimise exposure to soiled laundry: for shorter cruises guest laundry services will be discontinued, while for longer cruises laundry bags that can be washed will be used. Our crew will wear PPE for any work activities that have higher risk. Ventilation System Coral Expeditions has a modern air resupply system with high levels of filtration and options for fresh air supply. Additionally, treatment protocols through use of bactigas or similar antibacterial treatment will be used. For medical facilities, independent ventilation systems are installed. Stores & Luggage Handling Thorough environmental cleaning for items including luggage will occur during or prior to embarkation. Stores will be misted with virucidal disinfection spray before handling.
DINING SERVICE We hold HAACP certification, and uphold the highest standards of food safety and quality. Our dining service will no longer include buffets. Instead, enjoy family style dining, table platters or table service. CONTACT RECORDING & TRACING PROTOCOLS Contact tracing is an essential element of managing COVID-19 and generally it is considered that those onboard are contacts of one another. You may be asked to record close contact in diary format of face-to-face contact for 15 minutes or more or sharing an enclosed space for more than two hours. RISK ASSESSMENT OF PORT VISITS Risk assessment for port visits will be developed prior to each cruise and adjusted in real time as needed. Port visits may be changed or altered as required to remove exposure to shore-side hotspots or suspected outbreaks. STAFF TRAINING We will ensure all staff receive comprehensive training on this plan and corresponding responsibilities. Each ship and crew will undertake scenario based, practical training to ensure protocols are understood and practiced, including training on PPE use.
Response Plan Medically developed and government approved protocols We have developed, in association with our medical partners, a comprehensive Covid response plan if a suspected or confirmed case occurs onboard •
• • • •
Medical care of the patient including isolation, confirmation test, and ongoing care in medical facility - oxygen and medical equipment will surpass the required standard Isolation of patient’s close contacts with regular health checks Clear communication to guests that are well and shore-side support and authorities Immediate organisational response activation Shore-side support protocols, including returning to port, onshore medical care, and deep-cleaning of vessel.
COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED COVID RESPONSE
WEB
coralexpeditions.com
PHONE
1800 079 545 or +61 7 4040 9999
explore@coralexpeditions.com
OFFICE
PO Box 2093 Cairns 4870 QLD Australia