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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 South Africa Managing Director Eric Barnard presents his guide to the current status of crew changes in the country including: where they may be conducted; what restrictions are in place; and what requirements must be met in South African and Namibia.
What challenges and restrictions do shipowners/operators face when arranging crew changes in South Africa and Namibia, and how have your local contacts helped to ease the situation?
South Africa and Namibia are still under country lockdown and not entertaining any crew
changes, except for South African nationals. As South Africa is now at our peak with this
pandemic, we could expect further restrictions and limitations to be enforced.
Namibia, through various governmental departments, has managed to perform some crew
changes with direct, chartered flights via Amsterdam but as on-signers must undergo
mandatory 14-days’ quarantine in a local hotel, there have not been too many requests from clients to proceed and they have continued to search for alternative options.
In accordance with the SAMSA (South Africa Maritime Safety Authority) regulations outlined in Marine Notice No.32 of 2020, no foreign seafarers are permitted to embark or disembark vessels in South Africa unless prior arrangements have been made and agreed upon between the Embassy/Embassies of the seafarers’ home countries and South Africa’s Departments of International Relations and Cooperation, Home Affairs and Health.
Owners / Ship Operators must approach the respective Consulate or Embassy for the crew members they wish to change. The Embassy will then file an official request to the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation for approval and coordination.
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 expect crew changes to be permitted again but only once South Africa sees a significant drop in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded. We are now at our peak and the daily numbers are huge.
Once we have passed the peak and the numbers drop significantly, the country’s lockdown restrictions will start to ease and our borders will open up, allowing for crew changes again.
Is there anything else you wish to add?
We are being inundated with requests to perform crew changes and we have great sympathy for those crew who are stuck on board vessels. We are constantly checking with local authorities for the green light to proceed with crew changes and will notify all clients as soon as we receive any positive news.
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.