Crew change in anchorage
Following the restrictions on travel imposed since March 2020 to deal with the spread of Covid-19, ship owners and managers have hunted for alternative locations for crew changes on ships.
Vizhinjam, located on the Arabian sea coast of the southern Indian state of Kerala, emerged on the world crew change map in July 2020. Since then, many ships have diverted to Vizhinjam, with most vessels opting for a crew change at the outer anchorage. The first crew change in Vizhinjam was carried out on 15 July 2020. Since then, more than 347 vessels have used the facility for seafarers to sign off and take on replacements. As many as 2,737 crew members have signed off from anchored vessels, and 2,807 seafarers have signed on using the crew change facility at Vizhinjam over the last year.1 The shortage of appropriate boats for crew transfer and strain on the port infrastructure due to a sudden increase in crew change has raised risks for the seafarers who are undergoing transfer between vessels, often by way of tugboats.
The use of tugboats
Tugboats, with a flat aft deck, are suitable for carrying supplies and stores to the vessel but are, in most cases, inappropriate for crew transfer at outer anchorage, especially considering the sea swell. Often there are no openings on the bulwark, and the crew has no choice but to climb onto the bulwark, balance themselves, and then jump onto the pilot ladder of the vessel. This is a hazardous transfer considering that the tugboat is also riding up and down the swell.
A pilot or a service boat with a suitably shaped forward section, holding bars on deck, and much better manoeuvrability than a tugboat, is often used in more established crew change ports. Even when a tugboat is the only option, suitable arrangements should be made by providing appropriate holding bars and openings in the bulwark around the disembarkation point. Such arrangements can lower the risks considerably and improve the safety of the transfer.
Additionally, crew change at anchorage should be undertaken in fair weather, good visibility, preferably during daylight hours, and after getting a proper lee from the vessel. Seafarers must wear lifejackets, PPE while on the boat / tug, and whilst boarding the vessel. Prudent seamanship and industry best practices for pilot ladder/gangway rigging must always be followed.
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