Tag: crew change

Governments need to urgently act to ensure ships’ crew changeovers can take place to keep world trade flowing and avert a humanitarian and ship safety crisis, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim reiterated once again during a virtual meeting.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the crew change issue that has brought, Canada issued the temporary resident visas (TRVs) program to permit seafarers' transportation.

Recognizing the importance of maritime transport for the world's resilience, IMO and UNCTAD reiterated calls for governments to allow crew changes and ensure seafarers and other maritime personnel have access to documentation to return home safely.  

The issue of crew change restrictions has brought many barriers to the shipping industry and most importantly to the seafarers, with many countries now making steps to allow crew change, as Hong Kong did.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak and the major travel restriction issue that has arise, Wilhelmsen coordinated Singapore’s first full crew change for Synergy Group.

Amid COVID-19 pandemic and the crew change issue that has arise, shipping companies set seven chartered flights in order to bring 2.000 seafarers from Sri Lanka, Brazil, UK back to their homes.

MPA, SSA and SMOU Singapore, in cooperation with the International Maritime Employers’ Council Ltd (IMEC) and The World Shipping Council (WSC) have formed the Singapore Crew Change Working Group (SGCCWG) to facilitate crew changes in Singapore.

Eight ship managers joined forces with crewing firms to run a charterflight from Mumbai to Doha and back, as well as Delhi to Doha and back, to fly Indian crew looking to join ships abroad and to bring back those who had signed off after spending extended contract tenures at sea.

Following the COVID-19 crisis and the crew change matter that has presented within the shipping community, Maritime New Zealand designated seafarer welfare representatives as "essential workers".

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) issued a joint statement advising that from the middle of June 2020 about 150,000 seafarers a month will require international flights to ensure crew changeovers can take place.