Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers have made great contributions to sustaining global supply chain, especially vital medical supplies and daily supplies, but are not given as much credit as medical workers and airline employees. Strict restrictions are levied in many countries and ports to prevent the spread of the virus with few considerations on the basic rights of seafarers, who as key workers have now been forbidden to disembark for medical help ashore or get repatriated in most places. Unfortunate incidents of seafarers hurting themselves, committing suicides, or interfering with ship operations have been reported frequently. To free seafarers from the dilemma and prevent other severe consequences, it will be indispensable for governments to make the best possible move in accordance with the IMO guidance and the appeal of the shipping industry.

I.   Emerging problems

1.  For seafarers cannot be repatriated, serving on board for an excessive period will inevitably affect their physical and mental health, potentially leading to incidents that impede safe operation of ships.

2.  Not only seafarers, but also their families are seriously affected, especially when they are trapped on board while unfortunate things happen back at home.

3.  For seafarers that are still serving within the contract period, they are subject to great pressure as well. Under the influence of fatigue, there might be an increasing risk of maritime safety and pollution incidents.

4.  For seafarers that are waiting to get on board, they might be forced out of the job due to financial difficulties. On average, around 100,000 seafarers reach the end of their employment contracts in any given month worldwide and by the end of May, there will be up to 10,000 Chinese seafarers who need to be repatriated. The number will continue to climb as time goes on, putting the entire industry at stake.

5.  Not a few seafarers have been risking their health and lives working on board when they got denied disembarking for medical assistance.

6.  Stringent control measures during the pandemic will, more or less, affect ship stores and food supplies.

7.  The crew change crisis, if not properly handled, is likely to escalate and plunge the already suffering global economy.

II.   Efforts of the international community

On February 21, IMO issued Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.2 advising that flag State authorities, port State authorities and control regimes, companies and ship masters should cooperate to ensure that where appropriate, passengers can be embarked and disembarked, cargo operations can occur, ships can enter and depart shipyards for repair and survey, stores and supplies can be loaded, and crews can be exchanged.

On March 19, ITF and ICS delivered a joint statement to ILO, IMO, UNCTAD and WHO and stressed that “regardless of their nationality, seafarers should be treated as any other international ‘key workers’ such as airline crew and medical personnel”. They emphasized the vital need for the world’s professional merchant seafarers to be granted appropriate exemptions from any national travel restrictions when joining or leaving ships to keep the world’s maritime supply chains functioning.

On March 27, IMO issued Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.6 recommending governments to designate professional seafarers and marine personnel as “key workers” with necessary exemptions from travel restrictions, and permit them to disembark ships in port and transit through their territory for the purposes of crew changes and repatriation.

On April 1, the IMO Secretary-General urged UN agencies to support the IMO appeal of identifying seafarers and maritime employees as key workers to facilitate crew change and repatriation.

On April 7, the ITF and ICS sent a joint statement to G20 leaders, calling on the governments to take coordinated steps to protect health, safety and repatriation rights of seafarers.

On April 9, the European Commission (EC) issued Guidelines on protection of health, repatriation and travel arrangements for seafarers, passengers and other persons on board ships urging Member States to designate ports for fast-track crew changes. The ports should be geographically dispersed so as to cover the Union and adequate quarantine facilities and medical services should be provided. To facilitate repatriation, where there are nationals of third countries with visa requirements and for reasons of urgency have not been able to apply for a visa in advance, Member States should grant the necessary visas at the border.

On April 15, IATA and ICS jointly called on governments to designate a specific and limited number of airports for the safe movement and repatriation of crew. Priority airports should include those close to major shipping lanes which also have direct air connections to principal seafarer countries of residence, such as China, India and the Philippines. IATA and ICS are working with the ICAO and the IMO on recommendations to governments for standardized procedures and protocols for positioning crews whilst preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

III.  Countries and regions that have lifted the restrictions

1.  Australia

The Australian federal and state authorities agreed on April 9 to exempt the travel restrictions on crew of passenger ships and allow crew change.

2.  UAE

FTA has decided to lift the restriction step by step. The following types of seafarers will be considered as the priority:

-          seafarers holding residence visa but trapped on board;

-          crew of passenger ships that are now stranded in the UAE;

-          seafarers that are not physically fit for serving on board;

-          seafarers that should be exempted out of emergency or humanitarian considerations.

3.  Belgium

Seafarers non-Schengen passports can be replaced only if they hold or they can get a valid Schengen visa.

4.  Canada

Seafarers are exempted from travel bans and quarantine measures as “key workers” (as provided in SSB09/2020).

5.  Hong Kong, China

Seafarers are allowed to enter China without restrictions and crew change is permitted.

6.  Denmark

Seafarers are allowed to transit through Denmark for “worthy purposes”.

7.  Finland

Crew change is permitted in all ports.

8.  Gibraltar

Crew change is permitted (see details in Port Circular 8/2020).

9.  Indonesia

Seafarers of foreign nationalities can be replaced only in designated anchorages.

10.  Netherlands

Only seafarers with Schengen visas can be replaced, but crew change remain a headache in the country due to limited flights and hotel shutdowns.

11.  Norway

Seafarers are exempted from travel bans and quarantine measures (see details in NMA Guidelines Regarding Change of Crew).

12.  Singapore

Crew change is allowed under exceptional circumstances:

-          the seafarer’s maximum service period has due and cannot be extended;

-          the seafarer should be replaced for humanitarian concerns, for example, the loss of a family member;

-          the seafarer is physically not fit to continue working.

13.  South Korea

Seafarers are exempted from travel bans but should be quarantined for 14 days on their own expenses for joining or leaving ships.

14.  Sweden

Only seafarers with Schengen visas can be replaced.

15.  UK

Seafarers are free from travel restrictions as “key workers” but crew change remains difficult in practice.

16.  USA

Seafarers with C1/D visas can be replaced. The relieving crew shall accept quarantine and screening in designated airports in accordance with requirements of local port authorities. There might be additional restrictions.

IV.  Measures taken by the Chinese authorities

The Ministry of Transport issued two announcements, respectively on March 13 and April 1, to address crew change issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but the policies were not thoroughly implemented at the port level. Later on April 22 and in response to the common appeal of the industry, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Health Commission, the General Administration of Customs, the National Immigration Administration, and the Civil Aviation Administration of China jointly issued the Notice on Taking Targeted Prevention and Control Measures on Seafarers Engaged in International Voyages.

Chinese seafarers can join ships in domestic ports in accordance with epidemic control requirements of local authorities and after customs quarantine checks. Those who have been on board for over 14 days since the last port of call and have been tested negative for coronavirus shall be allowed to disembark in compliance with local regulations. Other seafarers that do not satisfy above conditions shall follow the requirements of the joint prevention and control mechanism.

For Chinese seafarers that are in difficult situations or have a strong will of being repatriated, relative ministries and departments shall make appropriate arrangements and protect their basic rights by following local regulations and actively coordinating with shipping companies and manning agencies.

On April 13, a guidance on managing emergencies of seafarer injuries and illness was released. Seafarers on board Chinese flagged ships may seek help at embassies and consulates overseas if medical treatment ashore is needed. If a suspected or confirmed case is found on board while assistance is denied by littoral or port States, China will urge it to carry out emergency rescues through diplomatic means.

Chinese seafarers on board foreign flagged ships, in the case of injury or illness, shall be reported to local embassies and consulates, and where necessary, the Ministry of Transport will contact the flag State authority for coordination.

Seafarers, regardless of nationality, if found injured or ill in Chinese ports are assured of timely medical assistance and will be transferred to local hospitals, if necessary.

V.   Standpoint of the Club

1.  The crew change crisis has become a challenge imposed on the entire shipping industry by the COVID-19 pandemic and the only solution is by effective cooperation of all port States.

2.  Governments should accept the IMO initiative as early as possible and facilitate crew change and repatriation by identifying seafarers and maritime personnel as “key workers” and allowing them to disembark or transfer through their territories (i.e. airports) without any restrictions.

3.  Governments should work together to identify some major shipping ports that can be used for crew changes, namely the port of Singapore, Houston, Jebel Ali, Shanghai, Rotterdam an etc., to minimize the cost of management and the risk of infection. A set of standard procedures for crew change should be in place to ensure that the risk is minimized.

4.  All port States should endeavor to secure the supply of medicines, fuel, water, spare parts and food for ships, and provide necessary medical assistance for crew members.

5.  All port States should respect seafarers’ rights of repatriation, as granted by MLC 2006 Regulation 2.4/paragraph 2 and facilitate crew welfare and disembarkation while maintaining the risk of infection.

6.  In the case of Chinese seafarers, there have been about 10,000 seafarers in need of crew change as of the end of May. Most of the crew changes are completed in domestic ports given the stringent international environment, but the subsequent quarantine and isolation costs have made it financially challenging for most companies. Local governments can be supportive by offering policy preference or financial aids.

7.  Crew change in China is only feasible with the joint approval of multiple departments, including the customs, MSA, China Immigration Inspection, quarantine, and port bureaus. It is expected that joint efforts can be made to execute the Notice in accordance with local epidemic prevention mechanism and therefore facilitate crew welfare.

VI.  Advice to Members

1.  Companies should deliver the most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 and practical prevention measures to ships and provide adequate personal protective equipment including masks, goggles, disposable rubber gloves, protective suits and alcohol-based hand sanitizers or disinfectant wipes.

2.  The shipowner/company should be informed of the epidemic prevention measures taken at the ship’s port of call and make detailed crew change plan in line with the voyage plan. Seafarers whose contract or SEA is about to be expired should be replaced in time.

3.  A risk assessment should be done when preparing crew change plans. It’s advisable to have the relieving seafarers quarantined at a convenient and safe port before allowing them on board. Transportation and accommodation should be carefully arranged and avoid transits to lower risks of infection or traffic control.

4.  Each crew member on board should keep an accurate and continuous record of his medical condition – the body temperature each morning/evening and whether there’s any cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath or other symptoms and fill in the Health Declaration Card while companies making plans about crew disembarkation.

5.  Companies are advised to have some seafarers ready and prepared to take shifts – ask them to self-quarantine at home with daily activity and health status recorded, or have them tested for coronavirus, if possible.

6.  Each seafarer that plans to get on board should fill in the Health Declaration Card while companies making plans about crew boarding. Traveling plans should be made in advance with travel history accessible and traceable.

7.  Seafarers should always wear masks when joining or leaving ships or when the vessel is in port, keeping in mind the prevention and control measures proposed by the local government and shipowner. Avoid visiting public spaces or having close contact with others.

8.  A follow-up on the health conditions of seafarers should be done after each crew change (daily report for crew on board and 14-day report for repatriated crew).

9.  In the event that the crew’s contract is due however prevented from disembarkation due to the COVID-19 situation, talk with them in an acceptable way and try to make crew change possible the next time.

10.  Companies should be concerned about the mental health of crew serving on board for an excessive period. Stress may be relieved if the crew are offered some rewards, like the time communicating with families.

11.  Seafarers should keep a rational and healthy mindset if crew change is not practicable at the moment. Keep good communication with owners and carry on working before being repatriated.

 For more information, please contact your manager at the Club.