Update on Government’s Maritime Traffic Advisory
28 March 2020
Having noted the significant increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, and in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus into and within the borders of Antigua and Barbuda, the Government has taken the decision that, effective Saturday 28th March 2020 at 11:59 PM EST, ALL inbound pleasure crafts (motorized and sailing yachts), passenger vessels and ferries will be denied entry into Antigua and Barbuda for a period of fourteen (14) days in the first instance. This restriction does not apply to interisland ferry services between Antigua and Barbuda.
Commercial vessels engaged in regional and international trade are to follow the strict guidelines issued by the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority for ships scheduled to transport cargo to and from Antigua and Barbuda during the State of Emergency.
During the State of Emergency all cruise permits already issued to visiting yachts are now restricted only to the coastal waters of Antigua and shall cease to apply to coastal waters of
Barbuda. Further, during the period of the curfew, 8:00pm to 6:00am, all vessels and tenders are to be confined to an established mooring position.
Military vessels and other watercraft transporting food, medical supplies, humanitarian and emergency supplies will be given special dispensation with prior notification.
These restrictions for maritime traffic, and the consequential Port Authority guidelines, issued during the State of Emergency, shall not restrict vessels engaged in innocent passage and/or transit passage, within the territorial seas and/or archipelagic waters of Antigua and Barbuda, under the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).