UK Club Correspondent Huatai Marine have provided the below Circular (available in both English and Chinese).
Crew Changes - A Comprehensive Guide
09/02/2021
We have been working with over 200 members of our correspondents network to produce a comprehensive document that outlines challenges and changes for crew changes in ports.
Changes to seafarer crew change in Hong Kong
05/02/2021
Hong Kong authorities had recently announced tightening measures for seafarers and cargo vessels entering into Hong Kong.
The UK Club is delighted to be a signatory on the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change, this initiative is a global call to action to address the ongoing crew change crisis.
The UK Club Correspondent, GAC Shipping Ltd, would like to remind Members of the commencement of bulk crew changes of international seafarers from 22nd December 2020, through the Offshore Crew Transit Hub (OCTH) operated by a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).
UK Club Correspondent Huatai Marine have issued a new Circular outlining the stricter epidemic control on boarding personnel at the port of Guangzhou.
Since early 2019, vessels calling in Dakar have been at an increased risk of Customs fines and/or detention for cargo shortages or overloading.
In a press briefing dated 21 December 2020, the Secretary-General of the IMO spoke out against “no crew change” clauses in charterparties.
The IMO in its Circular Letter No.4204/Add.35 14 December 2020 announces that, at the time of issuing the letter, 46 States have designated seafarers as key workers.
The UK Club’s Correspondents in China, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, would like to alert Members to recent cases where crewmembers onboard ships were required to perform antibody testing in addition to NAT (swab) tests prior to entering shipyards in Shanghai and Zhoushan.
The UK P&I Club, has launched ‘Global Crew Change Advice’, a comprehensive manual that outlines current challenges and issues regarding crew changes in ports throughout the world.
Update: China opens up 10 ports for foreign crew change and implements circuit-breaker mechanism
12/11/2020
The ports concerned have been busy putting in place the necessary measures for conducting crew change operations in compliance with the requirements laid down by the authorities.
It is reported by Chinese media that foreign crew change operations will resume in ten Chinese ports.
The International Group and its 13 constituent P&I Clubs, have become extremely concerned about the detrimental effect upon the mental well-being of seafarers as a result of the prolongation of their contracts of employment due to the pandemic.
China – Covid-19 nucleic acid tests compulsory for crew joining vessels calling at Chinese ports
30/09/2020
On 24 September, the Chinese Ministry of Transport, General Administration of Customs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly issued an Announcement (Announcement of the Ministry of Transport No.
UK Club correspondents in South Korea have provided the following two updates regarding strict regulations for vessels arriving at South Korea with crew joining from certain countries.
Singapore Crew Changes Guidebook - Version 5
24/09/2020
Version 5 of The Singapore Crew Change Guidebook reflecting updates in the latest Port Marine Circular No.
On 11 September 2020, the IMO posted a Joint Statement by the United Nations Specialized Agencies calling on all Governments to immediately recognise seafarers as key workers and to take swift and effective action to eliminate obstacles to crew changes.