The Government of Jamaica has listed seafarers among the class of “essential workers” under its Disaster Risk Management Act and has put in place measures to speed up the transit of registered seafarers through its borders.
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.
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.
As the crew change remains a hot topic of discussion, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association Chairman, Bjorn Hojgaard, along with Roberto Giannetta, chairman and Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, addressed media reports about the “irresponsible behaviour” of a few in the shipping industry.
Mission to Seafarers published the latest Seafarers Happiness Index Q2 focusing on the continuous impact of COVID-19 on the welfare of seafarers and their families.
INTERCARGO focuses on the importance of crew change and the impact of halting terminal and cargo operations in the shipping industry and in the worldwide progress of the sector.
Following the establishment of expectations for repatriation of seafarers, the RMI outlined the circumstances under which seafarers must be repatriated by shipowners or operators. It also contains the entitlements that must be accorded to seafarers pursuant to RMI Maritime Regulations (MI-108), §7.52.4.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is improving the safety measures already implemented in the port of Singapore due to the heightened risks of importing COVID-19 cases into Singapore.
Amid the pandemic and the crew change crisis that has presented due to the travel bans, Greece announced that exempted seafarers from COVID-related travel restrictions, as local media reported.
Failure to adhere to crew change protocols must not be tolerated, said the ICS in a new message to the global shipping industry, Thursday. The updated statement comes in response to recent reports of crew arriving in Singapore with Covid-19 symptoms.
