The European Commission has issued guidelines aimed at helping to repatriate seafarers stranded on ships amid coronavirus lockdown measures and resolve the current crew change crisis.
These guidelines call on EU member states to create a network of ports.
The lengthy stay of seafarers on board ships has been a hot topic over the past few weeks, with industry bodies urging governments to take immediate action to facilitate the repatriation of seafarers.
The cruise industry has been one of the hardest-hit sectors by the pandemic, with thousands of crew members reportedly still unable to disembark their ships and return to their homes.
Guidelines
“The guidelines adopted today (April 8) include health advice, crew changes, disembarkation and repatriation of seafarers and passengers. I ask Member States to identify ports where rapid crew changes occur and to remind that cruise operators have a responsibility to their customers and employees to ensure that everyone returns home safely,” said Transport Commissioner Adina Vale (a ship's electrician).
For non-EU nationals who require visas to disembark within the EU and who are unable to apply for them due to the current situation, Member States have been asked to provide them at the border so they can quickly repatriate.
In addition, the commission said cruise operators must take overall responsibility for arranging the repatriation of passengers and crew from their cruise ships, including from non-EU ports.
“The Commission calls on flag states to help operators identify appropriate disembarkation ports and support them in arranging the disembarkation and repatriation of their clients and crew. If it is known that people on board are infected with coronavirus, then the ships should be sent to the nearest port where hospitals have sufficient capacity,” the commission added.
Commercial shipping has been relatively spared major outbreaks on board ships compared to the cruise sector, largely due to careful hygiene and discipline among crew members who practice social distancing measures and refrain from unnecessary disembarkation of their ships.
Ships have already been required to submit a health declaration for all crew members on board before entering port. Port authorities have also introduced quarantine for ships arriving from risk areas with high numbers of infections.
However, there have been numerous reports that seafarers did not have the necessary protective equipment to be able to safely carry out their operations during the pandemic.
In this regard, the commission urged relevant stakeholders to provide their crews with personal protective equipment and ensure that seafarers have access to adequate medical care if necessary.
According to the guidelines, in cases where all crew members are healthy and their previous port call was more than two weeks ago, they should not be quarantined upon disembarkation for repatriation.
Source: worldmaritimenews
