The new coronavirus (COVID-19) has cost the lives of more than 707.000 while confirmed cases exceed 18.800.000. Although coronavirus started in China in early 2020, now it has spread over Europe where Italy and the UK have the most deaths. Also, Brazil, Canada, France and Spain top the list with the countries affected significantly.
As the global cruise industry and seafarers’ unions near completion of the repatriation of almost 250,000 seafarers, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) warns that there are challenging times ahead for the industry and its workforce.
Singapore continues to take a calibrated and risk-based approach in determining the precautions and measures for the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 23 March 2020, 2359H, crew and passengers on short term visits have not been allowed to disembark in Singapore, unless given special prior approval from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
In view of the recent cases of crew members who are tested positive for COVID- 19 upon arrival in Singapore, which posed a health risk to the crew that travel with them, to the ships they were to join, and to the local community, MPA is working with the industry taskforce to provide more detailed guidelines to safeguard the crew change process.
Following the resurgence of COVID-19 cases across the world, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) recommends owners, managers and agents to adopt additional precautionary measures when carrying out crew changes on Singapore-registered ships.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) decided to continue its crew change activities in all its ports and waters. Namely, according to the Federal Transport Authority, UAE will open crew changes to all ports across the nation’s seven emirates.
As the COVID-19 crisis continues, the port Canaveral, central Florida’s seaport and the second largest cruise homeport, will be reducing its employees by more than 40% through layoffs, furloughs and attrition.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines launched the detailed procedures and health and safety protocols concerning the repatriation and the conduct of crew change, in authorized domestic and international ports in the country.
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) launched COVID-19 EU guidance for cruise ships.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the US economy during the second quarter of the year suffers its biggest blow since the Great Depression.
