💉 Joining a Ship During COVID-19: Seafarer Guide After Vaccination

The COVID-19 vaccine may have eased global restrictions, but seafarers still face strict protocols when joining their ships.

This guide offers a firsthand look into the real-world experience of a vaccinated Filipino seafarer joining a vessel in Europe- what to prepare, what to expect, and what you must do to avoid delays.

📋 Pre-Departure Procedures for Seafarers

Despite being vaccinated, seafarers must still comply with international travel and health protocols before deployment.

These rules vary depending on your company, destination country, and airline.

🧪 COVID-19 RT-PCR Testing and Isolation

Your journey starts with a COVID-19 RT-PCR test– a mandatory requirement for all seafarers, regardless of vaccination status.

Here’s how companies generally handle this:

• Some employers require a 7-day hotel isolation before swab testing.
• Others surprise their crew with short-notice testing without prior isolation.

Your RT-PCR test result must remain valid (usually 72 hours) until you reach your vessel.

If the validity lapses en route, you may be required to retest at a connecting airport.

🥗 How to Increase Your Chances of a Negative Result

A negative COVID-19 test is essential for departure.

Here are practical tips that helped me pass:

• 🍃 Healthy Diet: Focus on vegetables and vitamin-rich meals before the test.
• 💊 Vitamin C Daily: I took 1 tablet in the morning and drank vitamin-rich beverages like Smart C in the afternoon.
• 🍌 Safer Fruits: I avoided peeling fruits like oranges or apples to limit hand-to-mouth contact. Bananas are safer.
• 😴 Get Enough Sleep: Rest boosts your immune response.
• 🚷 Minimize Exposure: Limit going outside your accommodation.
• 🙏 Spiritual Readiness: Many seafarers believe that faith and prayer provide mental strength during this uncertain process.

📑 Required Documents Before Departure

Once you test negative, your manning agency will begin dispatch.

They’ll provide you with a document pack which usually includes:

• Negative COVID-19 test result
• Seafarer’s employment contract
• OEC (Overseas Employment Certificate)
• Letter of Guarantee (LOG)
• Flight itinerary
• Certificate for International Transport Workers
  ↪ This ITF document certifies you as a key maritime worker, requesting governments to allow your free passage through borders and ports.
• Health Declaration and Hygiene Protocols

🔔 Important: If you have multiple connecting flights (e.g., Manila → Amsterdam → Croatia), each airport may require additional documents. Your manning agency will brief you accordingly.

✈️ Airport Experience at NAIA Terminal 3

🛂 COVID-19 Protocols and Common Issues

Contrary to the common belief that the Philippines is lax, NAIA Terminal 3 enforces one of the strictest airport protocols in the region.

Airport staff ensure that:

• All seafarers meet airline and destination country documentation.
• Health screening, baggage checks, and travel declarations are strictly followed.

📍Arrive at least 5 hours before departure.
I arrived 3.5 hours early and still almost missed my flight due to processing delays. Don’t take risks. Be early!

📲 Travel Apps and Online Forms

Before checking in, you must:

1. Download the Traze App
   Required for contact tracing in all Philippine airports.
2. Complete Online Health Forms
   These vary by country:
   • 🇭🇷 Croatia: Passenger Locator Form
   • 🇳🇱 Netherlands (Transit): Amsterdam Health Declaration on bond paper

🛑 Missing documents = denied boarding.
Some passengers were held back because they failed to present one of these forms and had to coordinate with their agencies again- often needing a new swab test.

🛫 In-Flight and Transit Experience for Seafarers

Once you’ve cleared airport procedures, the next challenge is international air travel- 🇳🇱 Schiphol Airport Transit Experience (Netherlands)

If your connecting flight is in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, here’s what to expect:

• 😷 Face masks required, but face shields were not.
• 🧪 Immigration checks focused on your valid COVID-19 RT-PCR test.
• 📄 Authorities verified my Schengen visa, test results, and seafarer documents.
• 🔄 If your test expires during transit, you may be swabbed again before boarding the next flight.

Despite the protocols, Schiphol was less strict than NAIA- just be prepared with all your documentation.

🇭🇷 Arrival in Croatia: Final Steps Before Joining the Ship

Finally, I arrived in Rijeka, Croatia, where my assigned vessel was docked.

📑 Documents Checked Upon Arrival

At the Croatian port of entry, immigration required:

• ✅ A valid negative COVID-19 test result
• ✅ A completed online health declaration form, submitted before departure from Manila (Balik Manila)

Once I showed these, the arrival process was swift and straightforward.

😮 Surprising Local COVID-19 Conditions

What shocked me most?

• No one was wearing face masks– not in public, not even in indoor areas like stores.
• No face shields or social distancing in sight.
• I confirmed with my taxi driver: Masks were only required indoors.

This stark contrast from Manila was surreal. After joining the ship at the shipyard, I even managed to go ashore for pizza and a beer 🍕🍺- mask-free!

📌 Final Thoughts: Advice for Seafarers Joining Ships After Vaccination

Even if you’re fully vaccinated, here are my takeaways for smoother shipboard deployment:

• 🧾 Be 100% document-ready – one missing form could delay your joining.
• ⏰ Arrive early at the airport – buffer time saves you from strict check-in surprises.
• 📱 Download apps and complete health forms before you leave your hotel.
• 🛡️ Protect yourself pre-flight – healthy habits still matter.
• 🧘‍♂️ Stay mentally and spiritually prepared – calmness helps you adapt to fast-changing rules.

❓ FAQs: Joining a Ship After COVID-19 Vaccination

🤔 Do vaccinated seafarers still need a negative RT-PCR test?

Yes. Most airlines and countries still require a negative swab test taken within 72 hours before arrival.

🧾 What documents should I bring when joining a ship?

Typical documents include:

• Negative COVID-19 test result
• Contract, OEC, LOG
• Certificate of Transport Worker (ITF)
• Country-specific health forms
• Travel itinerary
• Traze app profile and contact tracing history

🛬 What happens if my swab test expires during transit?

You may need to undergo another test in your connecting airport. Always have backup time and check your test validity for each leg of the journey.

📱 Can I prepare all forms digitally?

Some health declarations can be filled online. Others, like Amsterdam’s health form, must be printed on bond paper. Your manning agency will guide you.

🧳 Is joining a ship easier after vaccination?

Slightly. While borders may be open, protocols remain. Vaccination doesn’t remove testing, documents, or strict airport policies.

⚓ Conclusion: Stay Ready, Sail Smooth

Joining a ship post-vaccination is still a complex process- but it’s manageable with preparation, discipline, and awareness.

As a seafarer, you are part of the global maritime supply chain, and countries still treat you with special regulations.

So stay informed, pack your documents, and sail with confidence.

What’s your experience in joining your ship?

May the winds be in your favor.