Amid COVID-19 crisis and the crew change issue that has presented, the ship management company V. Group managed to facilitate 7,315 seafarers movements in the three months since 17th March.
With seafarers being stranded onboard vessels, unable to return back home due to the travel bans caused by the pandemic, V.Group managed to simplify the crew change process.
The company reported that 1.879 seafarers of 89 different nationalities, onboard 662 vessels were repatriated during last week.
Our global network means we have been able to work collaboratively across our network of offices to facilitate repatriations. We continue to work around the clock to repatriate as many seafarers as possible but there is a long way to go.
…Allan Falkenberg, Group Managing Director, Crew Management at Group, marked.
Currently, thousands of seafarers are still confined to vessels and have been forced to extend their service, putting their health and welfare at risk, the company further noted.
In light of the situation, V.Group is part of a steering group striving for a solution concerning the crew change crisis.
Namely, the crew change project includes V.Group, Wilhelmsen, Synergy PTC Magsaysay and Inchcape.
Crew change remains the number one challenge facing the maritime industry during this crisis and it is essential we find a solution. The situation is quickly reaching breaking point with seafarers either unable to get home to support their families at an extremely difficult and stressful time or unable to get onto ships and begin working.
….V. Group concluded.
Currently, more than 200,000 seafarers are stranded at sea. The Shipping community continue to call for the issue to be resolved and travel restrictions lifted for crew working beyond their contracts.
