Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, large numbers of seafarers are having to extend their service on board ships after many months at sea, unable to be replaced after long tours of duty or be repatriated via aircraft to their home countries. Shipping is vital to the maintenance of global supply chains, but the current situation is unsustainable for the safety and well-being of ship crew and the safe operation of maritime trade. Each month about 150,000 seafarers need to be changed over to and from the ships which they operate to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations for ensuring safety, crew health and welfare, and the prevention of fatigue.
IMO distributed a recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These recommendations are addressed to maritime administrations and, as appropriate, in liaison with Governments – relevant national authorities including, inter alia, health, customs, immigration, border control, seaport and civil aviation authorities. They also address the roles of shipping companies (their agents and representatives, including crew agencies) and the seafarers they employ; as well as – in consultation with relevant authorities – seaports, airports and airlines involved in the process of facilitating travel for the purpose of ship crew changes.
This framework of protocols covers the travel and movement of seafarers to and from ships for the purpose of effecting ship crew changes. This includes various locations (and potential locations) throughout the process of crew change and travel, and the periods of time when there may be risks that need to be managed and controlled in the process.
This framework takes into account the differences in the risks that may need be managed with regard to travel for the purposes of joining a ship and travel after leaving a ship for repatriation.
Use and implementation of this framework of protocols by Governments and relevant national authorities should be temporary and time limited to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Arrangements and requirements should default to normal as soon as circumstances allow.
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