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Information for Seafarers

ALGERIA

Map location

Countrywide Info
Universal Time Zone (+/- GMT, CET, UTC)	1
International Country Code	+213
IDD International Prefix	0
NDD National Prefix	7

Country Currency

Unit of currency is the Dinar of 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of AD1, 000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Coins are in denominations of AD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 centime. US dollars and French francs also accepted.

Currency Restrictions

Foreign currency must be declared on arrival. Local regulations are very strict with regard to the exchange of foreign currency and seafarers are strongly advised to avoid the black market. The import and export of local currency is limited to AD50 by nationals.

Public Holidays Observed

New Year's Day – 1 January
Islamic New Year – January
Ashoura – January
Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet) – March
Labour Day – 1 May
Revolutionary Readjustment – 19 June
Independence Day – 5 July
October – Eid-al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Anniversary of the Revolution – 1 November
Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) – December
Muslim festivals are timed according to various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations.

Main Religions

Muslim-mostly Sunni

Languages Spoken

Arabic, but French is used for most official and business transactions. English spoken only in major business or tourist centres.

Customs Allowance
and Regulations

The following may be imported by persons over 17 without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 400g tobacco; 1 litre alcoholic beverages; 500ml Eau de Cologne or 150ml of perfume in opened bottles.
Prohibited items: Gold, firearms, ammunition and narcotics may not be imported or exported.

Health Information

All travellers from endemic of infected areas require Yellow Fever certificate.
Risk of Hepatitis A from drinking water outside of the main cities and towns. Epidemic Typhus, Blue Tongue.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is high risk in some locations (2007).

What to Wear	Modest dress for women is advisable. Avoid short-sleeved garments and shorts.
Countrywide Communications	IDD is available. Mobile telephones - coverage is mostly limited to main towns. Public telephones are located in post offices, leading hotels and on many main streets. Phone booths take coins. Mobile phone providers: ATM Mobilis, Orascom Telecom Algeria, Wataniya Telecom Algeria
Tourist Information	Physical contact between men and women is banned in public. Take care not to offend. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment. Military installations and personnel should not be photographed. Visitors are advised to make sure there is nothing that could be of a governmental or military nature around their prospective photographic subject. Alcohol is only available in the more expensive restaurants and hotels and is generally not cheap. There is no licensing hours and hotel bars tend to stay open for as long as there is custom. The Algerian observance of Ramadam has recently relaxed and restaurants and other business centres will open during the day. However, in the towns and countryside in the south, religious observance tends to be more orthodox and difficulty maybe had finding eating places and getting transport during the daylight hours.
Embassies	Embassy of China 34 Boulevard Des Martyrs Algiers Telephone: +213 21-692724 / 692962 Fax: +213 21-693056 / 693124 Website: http://dz.china-embassy.org Email: cinaemb_dz@mfa.gov.cn Embassy of Greece 60 Blv Colonel Bougara 16030 El Biar Algiers Telephone: +213 921228 or 923491 Fax: +213 21 923490 Email: gremb@kbnetwork-dz.com /gremb.alg@medianet.dz Embassy of India 14 Rue des Abassides Boite Postale 108 El-Biar Algiers Telephone: +213 21-923288 Fax: +213 21-924011 Email: Indemb@wissal.dz Royal Netherlands Embassy 23 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi El-Biar, Algiers Boite Postale 72 El-Biar 16030 Algiers Telephone: +213 21-922828 Fax: +213 21-922947 Email: alg@minbuza.nl Embassy of Romania 24 Rue Si-Arezki Hydra 16035 Algiers Telephone: +213 2 600871 Fax: +213 2 693642 Email: ambrom@wissal.dz
ITF Contacts	Syndicate National des Officers de la Marine Marchande 07 Rue Ahcene KHEMISSA 1e Etage, Sidi M'hamed Algier Telephone: +213 21 71 79 35 Fax: +213 21 71 79 35 Email: snommar@yahoo.fr
STCW Contact	Ministere des Transports Direction de la Marine Merchande 119 Rue Didouche Mourad Alger Centre Telephone: +213 21 74 0681 / 74 3689 Fax: +213 21 74 76 21 Email: rezal@ministere-transports.gov.dz, benyelles@ministere-transports.gov.dz
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