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Measures introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have brought widespread disruption to normal crew change operations, with many seafarers prevented from disembarking or joining their vessels.
GAC Indonesia’s Managing Director Francois Traversa presents his guide to the current status of crew changes in the country including: where they may be conducted; what restrictions are in place; what requirements must be met; and how many changes GAC Indonesia has handled to date.
What challenges and restrictions do shipowners/operators face when arranging crew changes in Indonesia, and how have your local contacts helped to ease the situation?
Not all ports are open for crew changes. Our nationwide network is in constant contact with the relevant local authorities to gather specific local information (which can differ from that provided by the Central Government), to ensure we have a clear and up-to-date picture of what is possible, where and under what conditions.
Crew changes are allowed at Nipah, Tanjung Balai Karimun and Galang. There have also been some updates indicating that crew changes may be possible in Sunda Strait, and the ports of Merak, Balikpapan, Banjarmasin and Bitung, which are not in the COVID-19 red zone area. Crew must undergo PCR test and obtain rapid Covid-19 tests. It should be noted that the rules may change regularly and can vary from case to case, due to the evolution of COVID-19 within Indonesian territory.
Off-signers must follow the COVID-19 protocol with an Immigration escort to the airport to ensure they catch their flights home on the same day.
On-signers are more complicated as, right now, the issue of on-signers visas is not permitted in Indonesia. Joiners therefore need to get their visa through the Indonesian Embassy in their origin country. Andhika GAC Indonesia offers support by providing the Letter of Invitation, however, most of the embassies are closed and are not delivering visas for the joiners. Owners therefore face the difficulty of only conducting crew changes for off-signers and not for on-singers to replace the departing crew members.
The situation is more flexible for the repatriation of Indonesian crew whose contracts have expired, who can be repatriated by chartered or commercial flights. Again, Andhika GAC Indonesia provides complete assistance covering PCR tests, transportation from port to hotel, hotel accomodation and, once all COVID-19 protocols are complete, repatriation/transportation by air and/or land to their home town anywhere in Indonesia.
How many crew change operations have you successfully executed since COVID-19 lockdowns started?
To date, we have successfully handled 14 crew change operations of approximately 300 seafarers.
There is great uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic; how long it will last, and what its impact will be. How are you managing this from a crew change and lay-ups perspective? What are your expectations for the coming months?
We are still waiting for Immigration Director to cancel his Decree on restriction of crew changes, so those restrictions remain in place at some ports until the COVID-19 situation eases.
For the latest updates about COVID-19 status/measures and the impact on shipping, including crew changes, in countries around the world, go to www.gac.com/coronavirus.