Kuwait

Following documents are required for the boarding Customs Officer for outward clearance:

These documents are returned to Master, together with Port Clearance (valid for 24 hours only) before sailing.

All vessels must exhibit quarantine signals until quarantine formalities are completed or free pratique granted: by day, International code flag Q; by night, red light over white light.

No person other than the pilot is allowed to board any vessel either alongside pier or at anchorage until free pratique has been granted, unless it is an emergency where permission will be obtained from Customs and Quarantine by agents.

Smallpox and cholera vaccination not required in Kuwait, but can be done at the Master's written request.

Rat guards must be fitted to all moorings.

Maritime Declaration of Health form (supplied by boarding Quarantine Officer) to be completed.

One copy of Crew List containing dates of vaccination and inoculation is required. International Certificates of vaccination and inoculation to be available for inspection if required.

Details of air-conditioning available in vessel (form supplied by boarding officer). A valid Ship Sanitation Control (Exemption) Certificate must be produced. Facilities are available locally for renewal.

In light of the Ballast Water Management Convention that replaced the voluntary guidelines and considering the specific provisions of the Convention, it is desired to take the necessary steps to mitigate the risk of introduction of harmful species and also to harmonise national and regional policies to address the issue of ballast water in the RSA.

The area is the largest recipient of ship's ballast water. Annually, more than 50,000 vessels visit this area and discharge a large amount of ballast water. The RSA is a semi-enclosed water body with intensely hot summers and short cool winters, extensive air and water temperature fluctuation and relatively high salinity. It is also characterised by high turbidity and low exchange of water with open waters. Therefore, there is also a need to manage and control the spread of harmful aquatic species in ship's ballast water by implementing a set of measures such as ballast water exchange outside the RSA.

With effect from 1 November 2009, all ships, regardless of flag, will be required to exchange and treat all ballast water taken up outside the RSA for the protection of the marine environment. This comprises the states of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Ballast water, that has been treated with a ballast water treatment system approved in accordance with IMO standards, does not need to be exchanged.

Ships will be required to have on board an approved Ballast Water Management Plan in accordance with the IMO standards. Ships should also have and maintain a Ballast Water Record Book. From the date specified above, all the ships passing Strait of Hormuz will be required to complete the Regional Ballast Water Reporting Form (RBWRF). The ships will be inspected by the Port State Control Officers to ensure these regional requirements are fully implemented.

For further assistance contact the local Agent or respected Port Authority or MEMAC as the Regional Centre at [email protected] at the earliest opportunity.

* Dates approximate, and depend on sighting of the moon.

Wave heights in the area, throughout the year, are usually under 0.6 m. for approx. 75% of the time. The maximum wave heights are experienced during south easterly strong winds, which may cause wave heights up to 2.5 m.

The surface current in the Gulf is a generally anti-clockwise movement of the water body. The flow of current is in the southerly direction along the coast at speed of about 1 knot. The tidal currents dominate over the Gulf currents and are semi-diurnal in nature. The combined effect of the tidal and surface currents may reach up to 2 knots. The extreme (100 years) storm conditions experienced are maximum wave height of 5.6 m., and significant wave height of 3.0 m. However experience has shown that the operating wave height is up to 1.7 m.

The Customs officials will board the vessel to inspect/seal the bonded store during the vessel’s stay in port. An accurate list of all alcoholic drinks in the bonded stores is to be presented to the officials sealing the bond. The seals are not to be broken until the vessel leaves the final port and is out or Kuwaiti waters.

During the vessel’s stay in the State of Kuwait the following is strictly prohibited:

Seamen, superintendents, engineers/inspectors of all friendly countries are normally allowed to land in transit to join vessels, on agent's guarantee. Advance information regarding names, nationalities, age, sex etc. is required by agents in order to facilitate reception and immigration clearance.

Seamen are allowed to land for hospitalisation, repatriation, transfer etc. on a written undertaking that all expenses are met by agents on behalf of the owners. Passports must be valid for Kuwait for citizens of all countries. Stateless persons are required to have a visa before arrival in Kuwait.

For further information of immigration formalities please contact the Agent.

Citizen of other GCC states have a right to enter and live in Kuwait without undergoing any particular formalities.

Kuwait will grant 34 nationalities entry visas upon arrival, and include the following: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA and Vatican City.

All other nationals are subject to strict rules of entry and registration as foreigners under the sponsorship of Kuwaitis or Kuwait companies or as dependents of foreigners who already enjoy residence under Kuwait sponsorship.

Persons with an Israeli stamp in their passport may be refused visas/entry into Kuwait.

For the preparation of a Seaman's Guarantee Letter and to arrange consent to board a flight to Kuwait without a Kuwait visa, the following information must be supplied to Agent in Kuwait:

Once a seaman joins vessel on an SGL it is not permitted for the crew member to sign off/leave the vessel in Kuwait due to immigration restrictions imposed.

Contents and weight of consignment should be correctly stated in all documents and air waybill.

Customs clearance formalities and delivery of air freight consignments in Kuwait will take 10–14 days. It is, therefore, advisable to despatch air freight parcels well in advance of ship's arrival. Agent should be advised of the flight details and air waybill number enabling Agent to collect delivery order from the airline and commence clearance formalities immediately.

Consignments of chemicals being delivered to or discharged from vessel in Kuwait ports must be correctly packed and marked in accordance with IMDG code.