South Africa
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020 |
The South African President has announced a nationwide lockdown until the 16th of April. No-one is to leave home unless seeking medical care, buying food or medicine or collecting social grants. All shops and businesses will be closed with the exception of: pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial services, supermarkets, petrol stations, healthcare providers, post offices and companies that produce or transport food, basic goods and medical supplies. The South African Defence Force will be deployed to support police in implementing the lockdown. Public health management programmes will increase and international travellers from high risk countries will not be admitted.
The ban on export of non-essential items has been lifted, so South Africa can export boats and masts etc, but each export consignment must be evaluated on a case by case basis.
South Africa lockdown is extended to the 30th of April.
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Slovenia
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020 |
Slovenia is in quarantine since the middle of March. Marinas are closed, receptions operate via phone or email only. Restaurants, bars, hotels, schools and a lot of companies are closed as well. Shops remain closed with the exception of food, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, and post offices. Public transportation has ceased operations. People are not allowed to travel outside their city of residence. Public gatherings are prohibited, except those who are going to work or grocery shopping or being outside with members of the same household but a safe distance from other people.
The Marina Master team is continuously monitoring the development of corona virus worldwide. The Marina Master activities and businesses keep running smoothly in these unusual circumstances. Marina Master has complete ability to work from home due to the benefits of the Marina Master CRM. Therefore marina owners, managers and marina staff are working from home and boaters are using myMarina solution which enables them to communicate with marinas and view their boat live (stream camera) from home anytime.
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Singapore
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020 |
Since the update on 02-Apr, new cases of infected peoplew in Singapore have skyrocketed (with new record of 1426 cases). Singapore was blindsided by the spread in worker dormitories. Shared common facilities (kitchens & toilets) and cramped living conditions made safe distancing impossible. The country is highly dependent on migrant workers especially in the construction industry. Government is trying to give more space to these workers by relocating some to makeshift accommodation such as unused exhibition halls and floating accommodations (cruise ships as well as floating dormitories used by the oil & gas sector in the heydays).
Singapore has been in partial lockdown since 04-Apr: Safe distancing measures were further ramped up with enforcement powers. Education institutions have closed and switched to full home-based learning (HBL), with daycare arranged for those needing homecare support for children. All non-essential retail has closed. F&B outlets are open only for take-away or delivery. Banking, medical sector, transport, cleaning sectors remain open. Economic sectors critical to global supply chain remain open. All businesses have switched to working from home as much as possible. Everyone is required to stay at home as much as possible and avoid socialising and leave the house only for essential purposes ((buy groceries & exercise). When out, all are encouraged to wear a reusable mask (surgical masks reserved for healthcare workers). This is a turnaround from the previous policy of no mask needed unless sick, because of the rise in untraceable & asymptomatic transmissions.
Port authorities have stopped all recreational boating activity within local waters. Boatowners can access their boats only for checking and urgent maintenance. Foreign arrivals by sea will need to pre-register their arrival (health declaration) and be subjected to 14 day stay home notice.
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United Arab Emirates
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020 |
The situation in the UAE (valid in general for Oman, with reference to marinas):
Since 26th of March the Emirati government has issued a mandatory lockdown, while it conducts a general sterilization campaign with the aim of controlling the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. The lockdown begins as of 20:00 (local time) up to 06:00 am. Public transportation is suspended during this period. Employees of certain sectors are exempt, including police, the army, medical staff, airports, and banks, among few others. Those who do not respect the lockdown period will face fines. Commercial centers, malls, and open markets are closed now for two weeks, renewable. Restaurants are ordered to exclusively offer take-out services. In addition, all international flights are suspended for different period of times and depending on destinations.
Following Government and Ministerial guidelines and measures to ensure health and safety of its residents and visitors, maritime authorities notified all maritime activities companies, yacht charters, jet sky rental to suspend the all maritime activities until further notice. In general boating activity in UAE and Oman is suspended, but the marinas remain open for private boat owners, provided they stay on board and don't go out. Some luxury resort marinas with hotels are busy offering services and owners requests while onboard (deliveries, etc.). In Abu Dhabi although private boating has not been forbidden by government decree, marinas are very quiet as most members respect the government's instructions to stay at home. All commercial activities have been halted within the marinas as per the authority’s instructions. All commercial charter, pleasure and touring activity is banned. Fishermen marinas are still active since considered vital activity.
In general, marina offices are open as regularly hours, but manned only by administration staff, reduced to a minimum to guarantee safety and security. Marina operational staff remain 24/7, however shifts reduced to minimum safe manning.
Each marina adds additional precautionary measures to reduce spread of the Covid-19 virus, such as:
- Introduction of increased cleaning protocols, especially for typical contact areas such as door handles, washroom, buggies, trollies, office area and equipment, etc.
- Screening all employee temperatures at point of entry.
- Enhancement of internal health & safety training measures
- Preventive measures protocol distribution to suppliers and contractors.
Monitoring the situation on a daily basis and adapt accordingly
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United Kingdom
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020 |
On the 23 March 2020, The UK Government said that everyone should stay at home, initially for 3 weeks. The lockdown has been extended until 7th May.
You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:
- shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home.
These reasons are exceptions - even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
With the exception of the organisations covered by non-essential shops and public spaces, the Government has not required any other businesses to close – indeed it is important for business to carry on.
Employers and employees should discuss their working arrangements, and employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working.
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USA
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020 |
Some manufacturing plants and dealerships are still open due to state specific rules on "essential services". Local boat ramps and marinas are being closed due to unfortunate incidents of "boat parties" during this crisis. However, marinas in the US are subjected to different regulations in all the 50 states. States are using different criteria to be classified as essential businesses to remain open.
- Provide critical infrastructure ( dockage) to Harbor Masters USCG and other law enforcement.
- Support fishing and aquaculture industries including maintenance and repair of vessels
- Support employees needed to operate pump out services critical to waste management
Massachusetts--- businesses that support essential employees in the fishing and seafood industries
New Jersey----Marinas continue to operate as long as they practice social distancing
Connecticut---- Marinas are considered essential services
Wisconsin---- Continue to operate using social distancing
Georgia---Continue to operate using social distancing. No more than five on board and 50 ft between vessels
The industry is preparing for a 50% reduction in sales in the coming year.
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Australia
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020 |
Many marinas pay a concession; rental or leasing fee to a government agency. To help reduce the financial stress and job losses at the marina these agencies can provide a temporary halt to the requirement to pay the fee for a given period of time. In North Queensland for example the government through the Port Authority has provided the Cairns marina with fee relief, with some fees halted until end 2023. The total value of the fee relief package for operators at the marinas is AU$3m. (see https://www.portsnorth.com.au/news-publications/ ).Also, by providing relief to the marina operator, they are then in a better financial position to pass on fee relief to their tenants.
Some States have now confirmed deferment of rents but details are yet to be provided.
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Canada
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020 |
The Federal government has announced some significant measures to help businesses in Canada. Nearly $100 Billion dollars in relief which includes paying wages of staff of SMEs up to 75% up to $58,000Cdn to keep their staff for the next three months. There are also additional employment insurance measures to support Canadians out of work.
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Croatia
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020 |
Croatian Government confirmed set of measures that are aimed at job protection and postponement or relief of taxes to aid the economy.
- The amount of 1.14 bn Euro is dedicated for job retention in March, April, and May. In total, the Croatian government will pay approx. 700 Eur per employee per month.
- All tax payers affected by this crisis will be fully or partially exempt from paying corporate income tax, payroll taxes and salary contributions due in April, May and June 2020. The companies with a drop in revenues between 20% to 50% will have the right to defer taxes and will be able to pay them in 24 monthly annuities with no interest. Businesses with revenue of less than 1 mil. Euro and with a drop in revenue higher than 50% will be fully exempted from corporate income tax, payroll taxes and salary contributions.
- All financial loans and leasing contracts have been suspended for 3 months, with possibility to extend it to 6 or 12 months depending on the development of the situation
- Payment of the value added tax might be deferred until the invoices issued are paid off.
- The deadline for submission of the 2019 annual financial statements is postponed to 30 June and there is no obligation to pay a fee to the Financial Agency (FINA) for their publication.
- In addition, the Government has launched Financial Agency's digital platform to help with the implementation of the Covid-19 measures. This platform enables submitting an application, collecting the information necessary for the decision making and creating a report.
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Greece
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020 |
A discussion has started with the Government regarding the mooring fees of the chartered/commercial boats which are currently moored/locked in the marinas. All charters or sails are forbidden in the Greek territory, so now the professional unions and associations are asking a 40-60% discount on the mooring fees for the next months. The State has already announced a 40% reduction of the rent for the commercial stores, restaurants, cafes, etc for the period being locked down.
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