Pandemic and port operations in the EU: A legal analysis

The article investigates the legal issues concerning port operations duringpandemics. The author preliminarily addresses the international legal framework,focusing port States’ power to deny access to vessels for health concerns. In this vein,the relevant provisions of the WHO International Health Regulations will beconsidered. The paper will further investigate the impact of the pandemic on portoperations and maritime logistics will be considered (para. 4), and the pieces of EUlegislation adopted during the emergency in the context of the current EU legalframework, as well as the solutions that have been implemented as far as contactsbetween shore and ship personnel (including crew changes) are concerned. In the end,some tentative conclusions will be drawn: while the operative solutions and bestpractices that have been established to face the pandemic in the port and maritimesectors appear to be in line with international and EU law and standards, at the sametime the author advocates the need of a coordinated approach, both at internationaland EU level, with a view to enhancing cooperation between public and privatestakeholders.