COLONIAL TERMINALS COVID-19 ADVISORY #3

Colonial Terminals

COVID-19 ADVISORY #3

Monday, March 23, 2020

5:30 PM

These updates will continue to be published as circumstances change or as may be needed to keep our partners informed about current operations as well as the measures we are implementing to prevent and, if needed, mitigate the negative impact COVID-19 could have on our team members and customers.  Updated or important information will be in red type.

We are currently experiencing, and our employees are efficiently handling, normal pre-pandemic truck, rail and vessel volumes at our Terminals.  This level of service can only be maintained with a healthy workforce.  Accordingly, we have instituted several measures to prevent the potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus within our Terminal operations.  (These are listed below.)  Our highest priority remains protecting our employees and the carriers that call on our Terminal, which in turn will allow us to maintain the highest level of customer service throughout this pandemic.

We are monitoring and communicating with the states and municipalities in which we operate for any “Shelter-in-Place” or similar type orders.  It is our understanding that Terminal operations are considered essential services under federal guidelines and would not be impacted.

Current Operational Status

Savannah Terminal Operations

Bottom Loading, vessel, rail and truck traffic status:  NORMAL OPERATIONS

Wilmington Terminal Operations

Vessel, rail and truck traffic status:  NORMAL OPERATIONS

Current preventative measures in place include:

  • Colonial is following United States Coast Guard guidance [MSIB: 02-20 (Change 3)] regarding COVID-19 as it relates to boarding and working vessels.
  • Colonial is monitoring the health of its Terminal employees on a daily basis.
  • Colonial has reinforced the importance of employees remaining at home if they feel sick or unwell. Colonial has relaxed its sick leave policy to encourage those who may be sick to remain home.
  • Colonial has implemented a policy asking team members to inform supervisors if any members of their households have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in order to allow Colonial to evaluate the risk of them returning to work.
  • Colonial has communicated, reinforced and facilitated team members’ ability to follow current CDC guidelines on respiratory hygiene and hand washing.
  • Colonial has employees working remotely at home in order to reduce unnecessary personal contact at our facilities. In all cases, you can reach your contact using their normal work number or email address.
  • Inter-terminal management meetings are now being conducted as conference calls and travel between our terminals is minimized.
  • Customer meetings are being conducted as conference calls and any visitors are being screened prior to Terminal access.
  • A new Driver Dispatch Procedure has been adopted to minimize personal contact for Drivers and Dispatchers.
  • Hand sanitizer bottles are placed at entry points and common areas.
  • Common work equipment and spaces are being disinfected during the day and between shifts and activities are being evaluated and modified when possible to segregate and/or increase spacing between shifts and individual employees.

Contingency planning is ongoing and focused on ensuring our ability to maintain continuity of services for our customers.  The better we understand your circumstances, the better we will be able to collaborate and understand how to accommodate your needs as they may evolve.  Right now, our planning is centered around maintaining adequate and safe staffing levels across our Management, Operations, Maintenance, and Customer Service & Logistics teams.

We are committed to keeping you informed.  Any updates to, or changes in our plans, will be communicated through a new Advisory.  If there is any way we can support you or if you have additional questions, please contact your Account Representative or any member of our management team.

 

Posted in Advisories, COVID-19