Over 90% of shipping businesses are re-thinking how crew changes are managed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research carried out by travel management company, ATPI Marine & Energy.
Nearly 700 dockworkers at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have contracted COVID-19 and hundreds more are taking virus-related leaves, increasing fears of a slowdown in the area’s economy.
The new coronavirus (COVID-19) has cost the lives of more than 2,091,000 while confirmed cases exceed 97,000,000. Although coronavirus started in China in early 2020, now it has spread all over the world, with the US accounting for the most deaths. Also, Europe, South America and India top the list with the regions affected significantly.
ECSA and the ETF sent a joint letter to the European Member States urging them to enable crew changes without further delays and put seafarers on priority in regards to vaccination.
Following the COVID-19 vaccine phase, British Ports Association has called for essential port workers to be given priority during the rollout of the vaccine, so as to protect vital supply chains.
Saga Cruises, UK travel company, is the first cruise line requiring all passengers to have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to sail on its cruise vessels.
Japan P&I Club updates the quarantine measures implemented by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, informing that PCR negative certificates are required for all on-signers embarked the vessel in all foreign countries when vessels call at a Korean port.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is leading calls for governments to put seafarers and frontline maritime shore workers at the head of the vaccine queue and to designate seafarers as key workers, to prevent a repeat of the 2020 ‘crew change crisis’.
Nautilus reports that airlines are demanding negative COVID-19 tests, despite seafarers being exempted from the new rules, adding that this may affect crew changes.
Crew changes in New Zealand continued to take place over the holiday period, with 178 replacement and outgoing crew processed in December alone, Maritime NZ informed in its latest COVID-19 update.
