Phased Approach to the Resumption of Cruise Ship Passenger Operations
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Emergency
03/26/2021
03/26/2021
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
6 Months From Approved
89,965
0
69,530
0
3,340,577
0
As part of its Phased Approach to the Resumption of Passenger Operations, CDC will collect information from cruise ships operating or intending to operate in U.S. waters. This phased approach includes increased reporting of COVID-19 and COVID-19 like illnesses as well as a number of information collections designed to ensure cruise ships can prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks of COVID-19.
On October 30, 2020, CDC announced a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order for cruise ships through November 1, 2021 to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 from cruise ships into communities and protect public health and safety. The requirements in the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order highlight the need for further action before cruise ships can safely resume passenger operations in the United States.
CDC will require a phased approach to resuming passenger operations. During the initial phases, cruise ship operators must demonstrate adherence to testing, quarantine and isolation, and social distancing requirements to protect crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test future passengers. Subsequent phases include simulated voyages to test cruise ship operatorsâ ability to mitigate COVID-19 risk, certification for ships that meet specific requirements, and return to passenger voyages in a manner that mitigates COVID-19 risk among passengers, crew members, and communities.
CDCâs Framework for Conditional Sailing Order prohibits a cruise ship operator from commencing or continuing any passenger operations without a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate issued by HHS/CDC. CDC requests that the proposed project, COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate be processed in accordance with section 1320.13, Emergency Processing.
CDC has determined that this information is essential to CDCâs COVID-19 emergency response. Unrestricted cruise ship travel has the potential to exacerbate and amplify the spread of SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the virus that causes COVID-19. While the actions taken by cruise ship operators to advance their public health response to COVID-19 are encouraging, further public health oversight is needed to provide uniform standards for mitigating the communicable disease risk to crew and prospective passengers as the industry attempts to move towards limited passenger operations.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Remote and In-Person Inspections