Tokyo MOU adopted the interim guidance relating to COVID-19 circumstances, in order to protect PSCOs and prevent spread of COVID-19 and for facilitating port State Authorities to apply pragmatic flexibility amid pandemic.
Amid COVID-19 pandemic, India’s first domestic cruise liner Angriya, is now being used as an accommodation for stranded seafarers, since it helps them to navigate safely between their homes and port of calls.
The SG-STAR Fund, the first global tripartite initiative, launched a CrewSafe audit program that endeavors to assist crew source nations to bring a higher level of confidence and quality control checks into crew change processes such as quarantine/holding, medical and swabbing facilities.
It is known that IMO has chosen to make 2021 a year of action for seafarers, following the unprecedented crisis they are dealing with due to COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this year’s World Maritime Theme “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” seeks to increase the visibility of crew by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore issued a circular concerning updates on crew change operations, specifically in regards to crew sign off from ocean going cargo ships that requireCPVOD-19 pre-departure testing in Singapore.
The global crew change crisis could lead to a shortage of seafarers if exhausted crew choose to leave the shipping industry rather than risk another long period trapped at sea, warned the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ).
Amid the crew change crisis within shipping industry due to COVID-19 pandemic, MPA Singapore managed to cross the 100.000 mark for crew change operations carried out in Singapore.
As the 16 seafarers from the cargo ship MV Anastasia were finally released following months of being stranded onboard off China, the ITF called on shipowners to pay the millions of dollars required to get seafarers off ships which remain stranded off the Chinese coast due to the country’s informal Australian exports ban.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority along with the Department of Home Affairs joined forces in order to find an immediate solution concerning the renewal of South African seafarers expired or expiring passports issue.
Hong Kong announced on 5 February it will further tighten the conditions for persons who are exempted from compulsory quarantine under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap 599C) and Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap 599E), including crew members of goods vessels with cargo operation.
