Tag: crew change

To help governments establish coordinated procedures to facilitate the safe movement of seafarers, IMO issued a 12-step plan to 174 member states, providing them with a roadmap to free seafarers from their COVID-19 lockdown.

As hundreds of thousands of seafarers have already exceeded length of their tour of duty onboard amid COVID-19 uncertainty, they should request, without delay, access to long-term medications that they require so that they can be delivered as essential items, the ITF noted.

Amid a growing discussion on the need for states to enable crew changes and protect seafarers' rights during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) officially announced a new process to facilitate crew changes, which are now possible under certain conditions.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) stressed the importance of crew change overs in order for trade flow to continue, despite the challenges arising by the COVID-19 crisis. During a virtual IMO-industry meeting hosted by IMO, April 30, Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary General, highlighted their appreciation for seafarers working on the front line to keep trade of essential goods flowing during the pandemic.

As crew change has been a challenging issue for seafarers that arose during the COVID-19 crisis, GAC (Gulf Agency Company) informs that in Oman, crew change is allowed under special circumstances.

Seafarers' happiness has been lower for the first quarter of 2020, with clear concerns about current safety and welfare provision for those serving at sea during the COVID-19 crisis, according to the latest Seafarers Happiness Index report. 

The North Club provides information concerning which countries enable crew changes and which not, providing updates. Thus, the table below includes the countries that facilitate crew changes. The issue of crew changes has been at the centre of attention lately, as port restrictions and the global lockdown have led to many seafarers being onboard vessels and having their contracts extended.

As crew changes have been at the centre of discussions lately, Spain legislated that seafarers are key workers in a move that aims to ensure their movement through Spanish ports. The Spanish Transport Ministry approved the Order TMA/374/2020 on April 28. 

The COVID-19 crisis has brought many challenges and barriers the shipping industry has to overcome, with the seafarers being at the forefront of the situation, and the majority of key shipping stakeholders calling for the support and right treatment of the seafarers, launching the #HeroesAtSeaShoutOut campaign.

All countries should urgently permit the travel in/out and sign-on/off of seafarers, who must not be forgotten in these extraordinary times, said Dimitris Fafalios, Chairman of INTERCARGO, on the occasion of the approaching International Labour Day.