The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 18 June 2021.
1. IMO
The below circulars were issued in our COVID-19 report of 21 May and are published here again presenting the latest information to-date from the IMO.
Addendum no.41 to IMO circular no. 4204 “Coronavirus (COVID-19)” issued on 18 May 2021 relating to the roadmap for vaccination of international seafarers.
Addendum no. 35/rev. 7 issued 20 May 2021 provides a consolidated list of the IMO members that have so far notified IMO on their designation of seafarers as key workers. The list is shown below:
2. IMO Crew Change – National Focal Point for Crew Change and Repatriation of Seafarers
As per our BIMCO news of 12th April, the IMO has discontinued the issue of the IMO circular in series: MSC.7/circ. 1 relating to government states informing the IMO of their national focal point for crew change and repatriation of seafarers. Instead, the IMO’s online Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) will be used to contain such information.
According to GISIS today, the list of countries (44) informing the IMO of their national focal point of contact for crew change and repatriation of seafarers are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland (new), Israel, Italy, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Vanuatu.
Meanwhile, the ordinance does not prohibit the disembarkation of “maritime crew for medical assistance or for connection of air return to the country of origin related to operational issues or the termination of employment contract“.
1.The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore ( MPA) announced the following to be effective on 17 June 2021:
Changes to Sea Crew Handing/Taking Over at T1 Arrival Hall at Singapore Changi Airport
Due to the tightening of measures and zonal segregation at Changi Airport, we would like to inform you that there are slight changes to the arrival flow for sea crew as follows:
With effect 17 Jun 2021 (tomorrow), 0900H, there will be a designated sea crew handing/taking area located just outside the Baggage Claim Hall at Terminal 1 (see Image 2 below).
While the sea crew would continue to exit doors as they are using today, all ship/transport agents are to proceed to the cordoned area indicated in Image 2 to pick up their sea crew.
Once the sea crew has been handed over to the ship/transport agents, they are to escort their crew and exit the terminal using via the dedicated path directly to T1 Coach Stand.
To ensure SMMs (safe management measures) are adhered to within the designated area, ship/transport agents are to account for their crew and leave the area immediately. Should there be a need for any other processing (e.g. photo-taking), the ship/transport agent is to do it at their vehicles after they exit the terminal building.
We would also like to remind you that the dedicated boarding point for the ship crew today is at the T1 Coach Stand. Ship/transport agents are only allowed to park their vehicles at the dedicated boarding point to ensure there is no deviation in route to other areas within the airport.
4. Others
There is no news issued under this section.
5. BIMCO
BIMCO General COVID-19 Links
BIMCO is continuously monitoring COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the shipping industry in particular on crew changes. Below are some of the type of information currently being provided by BIMCO :
