Четвер, 28 березня 2024

Dmytro Luchenko*

Iurii Georgiievskyi**

Administrative Restrictions in Ports: Practice of Crew Rotations During COVID-19 Pandemic

Full text PDF [EN]

Suggested citation:

Luchenko, D., Georgiievskyi, Iu. (2021). Administrative Restrictions in Ports: Practice of Crew Rotations During COVID-19 Pandemic. Lex Portus, 7(3), 7-31. https://doi.org/10.26886/2524-101X.7.3.2021.1

*Doctor of Law, Professor, Department of Administrative Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (77, Pushkinska St., Kharkiv, Ukraine).

**Doctor of Law, Associate Professor, Head of the Scientific Department (Legal Support of Sectoral Innovative Development) of the Research Institute Innovative Development Legal Support of National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Department of Administrative Law of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (77, Pushkinska St., Kharkiv, Ukraine).

 

ABSTRACT

The article describes changes in imposing administrative restrictions for crew rotations in ports worldwide under the ongoing pandemic COVID-19 situation. The first part of the article provides a brief overview of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers’ well-being, considering the key role of seafarers in providing international trade, maritime security, and protection of the environment. The second part of the article describes the national and regional experience in addressing COVID-19 under crew rotations; highlights the main tendencies of strengthening/easing restrictions in seaports. The most typical restrictive administrative measures in crew rotations include dockage during the crew change off the port, ensuring social distancing, strict health monitoring, and the negative coronavirus test result, proof of being quarantined or staying on board given period. Furthermore, international organizations were considered efforts to minimize the impact of the pandemic on the stability of crew changes in ports. The recommended measures primarily focus on simplifying and stabilizing the crew changes procedures, including the unification of rotation procedures, adopting multilateral global management in the sphere, effective information exchange, etc. Lack of consolidated information about all administrative restrictions world’s largest ports has become a complex issue. In that regard, the non-state actors play an essential role in the information support of seafarers. However, such efforts can be enhanced by adding imperative rules, like daily updating of information by governments and implementing the control system with a possibility of sanctions implementation in ship detentions under Port State Control procedures.

The key words: administrative restrictions, seaports, COVID-19 pandemic, crew rotation, humanitarian crisis, hub ports.

 

REFERENCES

155 million faced acute food insecurity in 2020, conflict the key driver. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1091302

Bakhsh, N. (2020). Crew calls to helplines jump amid health crisis. Lloyd’s List. https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1133534/Crew-calls-to-helplines-jump-amid-health-crisis

Burns, J. et al. (2021). International travel‐related control measures to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic: a rapid review. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3. Art. No.: CD013717. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013717.pub2

Bush, D. (2021). Suicides at sea go uncounted as crew change crisis drags on. Lloyd’s List. https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1135870/Suicides-at-sea-go-uncounted-as-crew-change-crisis-drags-on

Chervonenko, V. (2020). How Minsk has become a bailout hub for the Ukrainians stuck abroad. BBC News. Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-russian-52633464 [in Russian].

Concerns of rise in number of seafarers impacted by crew change due to new COVID-variants. The web-site of the International Chamber of Shipping. https://www.ics-shipping.org/press-release/concerns-of-rise-in-number-of-seafarers-impacted-by-crew-change-due-to-new-covid-variants/

Corona/COVID-19. Danish Maritime Authority. https://www.dma.dk/Presse/temaer/corona/Sider/default.aspx

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Joint Statement calling on all Governments to prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for seafarers and aircrew. Circular Letter No.4204/Add.38 from March 25, 2021. The official website of the International Maritime Organization. https://cutt.ly/6nACsYQ

Coronavirus (COVID-19), restrictions at Ports/Countries. Waypoint Port Services. https://www.waypointports.com/covid-19/

COVID-19: A year on. Shipping has proven resilient through the pandemic but challenges of crew change and vaccine passports continue. International Chamber of Shipping. https://www.ics-shipping.org/news-item/covid-19-a-year-on/

COVID-19 – Calling shipping companies or masters to fill in the crew change report form. International Chamber of Shipping. https://www.ics-shipping.org/news-item/covid-19-crew-change-form/

Covid-19 – Federal Restrictions. Australian Federal Restrictions. Shipping Australia Limited. https://www.shippingaustralia.com.au/covid-19-shipping-update/covid-19-federal-restrictions/

COVID-19 global port restrictions map. UK Chamber of Shipping. https://www.ukchamberofshipping.com/coronavirus-covid-19-update/covid-19-global-port-restrictions-map/

COVID-19. Crew change crisis 2021. http://assol.org.ua/2021/01/04/covid-19-krizis-smen-ekipazha-2021/ [in Russian].

COVID-passport – a direct path to descrimination and violation of the rights of seafarers?. https://www.seafarersjournal.com/abroad/covid-pasport-pryamoj-put-k-diskriminatsii-i-narusheniyu-prav-moryakov/ [in Russian].

Crew change crisis is far from over and issues around vaccination need to be resolved. The official web-site of the International Maritime Organization. https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/pages/Crew-change-COVID-19.aspx

Crew change crisis risks becoming forced labour epidemic as tragedy hits six-month mark on World Maritime Day. Press release. https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/crew-change-crisis-risks-becoming-forced-labour-epidemic-tragedy-hits-six-month-mark-world

Crew Change During COVID-19. Autoridad Maritima de Panama. https://amp.gob.pa/crew-change-during-covid-19/

Crew Change Indicator (2021). The Neptune Declaration. https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/content/2021/06/The-Neptune-Declaration-Crew-Change-Indicator-July-2021.pdf 

Crew change: Where it is allowed and where it is not. https://cutt.ly/yvD1Gy2

Crew changes: A humanitarian, safety and economic crisis. https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/FAQ-on-crew-changes-and-repatriation-of-seafarers.aspx

Crew Changes & COVID-19 in Malaysia. GAS. https://www.gac.com/news--media/corporate-news/crew-changes--covid-19-in-malaysia/

Cyprus Proposed Program to Prioritize COVID Inoculations for Seafarers. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/cyprus-proposed-program-to-prioritize-covid-inoculations-for-seafarers

De Beukelaer, Ch. (2021). COVID-19 at sea: ‘the world as you know it no longer exists’. Cultural Studies, 35, 2-3, 572-584. DOI: 10.1080/09502386.2021.1898020

Doumbia-Henry, C. (2020) Shipping and COVID-19: protecting seafarers as frontline workers. WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs, 19, 279-293. DOI: 10.1007/s13437-020-00217-9.

Faqiang, L., Abliakimova, E. (2020). Safe ports: law, theory, practice under conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lex Portus, 4, 7-34. DOI: 10.26886/2524-101X.4.2020.1

Flash Alerts - COVID-19. KMPG. https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/03/flash-alert-covid19.html

Foo-Nielsen, A.C. (2020). China opens up 10 ports for foreign crew change and implements a circuit-breaker mechanism. Bimco.org. https://www.bimco.org/news/ports/20201012-china-opens-up-10-ports-for-foreign-crew-change

Foo-Nielsen, A.C. (2021). Crew change and repatriation of seafarers – IMO establishes new module on GISIS. Bimco.org. https://www.bimco.org/news/ports/20210412-gisis-new-module-on-crew-change-and-repatriation

Global Crew Change Advice. Version 1.9. Release: February 2021. Bimco.org.

Gu, V. (2020). New Covid-19 cases prompt Singapore crew change action. Argusmedia.com. https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2126093-new-covid19-cases-prompt-singapore-crew-change-action

Guidelines for crew changes in Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic. The website of the Norwegian Maritime Authority. https://cutt.ly/UnACfIy

Hong Kong Suspends Crew Changes Except for Cargo Ships in Port. The Maritime Executive. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/hong-kong-suspends-crew-changes-except-for-cargo-ships-in-port

ILO. (2006, February 23). Maritime Labour Convention. https://cutt.ly/cmjv3FD

IMO. (2020, May 5). Coronavirus (COVID-19) –Recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: Circular Letter (No. 4204/Add.14). https://cutt.ly/JmjsIhj

IMO. (11 September 2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Joint Statement calling on all Governments to immediately recognize seafarers as key workers, and to take swift and effective action to eliminate obstacles to crew changes, so as to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the shipping sector, ensure maritime safety and facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic: Circular Letter (No.4204/Add.30). https://cutt.ly/rmjvCBZ

IMO announces World Maritime Theme for 2021. Shipping and Freight Resource. https://cutt.ly/amjst4M

Imprisoned by the virus: crew change has been indefinitely postponed. The Shipping. https://sudohodstvo.org/v-plenu-u-virusa-smena-ekipazhej-otkladyvaetsya-na-neopredelennyj-srok/ [in Russian].

India Proposes Crew Change at Sea for Ships Stranded off China. Maritime-executive.com. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/india-proposes-crew-change-at-sea-for-ships-stranded-off-china

Labrut, M. (2020). Chile to allow international crew change. SeaTrade. Maritime news. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulation/chile-allow-international-crew-change

Lim, K. (2020). Day of the Seafarer 2020. The official web-site of the International Maritime Organization. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/About/Events/Documents/Day%20of%20the%20Seafarer%202020%20-%20SG%20message.pdf

Malhotra, N. (2007). Balancing seafarers’ welfare and maritime security with biometrics. World Maritime University Dissertations. 159. http://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/159

Memorandum Circular No. 2021-03. The International Maritime Employers’ Council. http://www.imec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Philippines-BOQ-Guidelines-on-the-Issuance-of-BOQ-Certificate-upon-Completion-of.pdf

MSC. (2020, September 21). Recommended action to facilitate ship crew change, access to medical care and seafarer travel during the COVID-19 pandemic: Resolution MSC.473(ES.2). The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO). https://www.intercargo.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Resolution-MSC.473ES.2-on-Crew-Change.pdf

MSC. (2021, February 26). Resolution MSC.473(ES.2) – recommended action to facilitate ship crew change, access to medical care and seafarer travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. National Focal Points on Crew Change and Repatriation of Seafarers: MSC.7/Circ.1/Rev.24. Bimco.org. https://www.bimco.org/news/ports/20210326-bimco-covid-19-weekly-report

Muller, L.S. (2021). COVID-19 Changes in Laws and Regulations. Professional Case Management, 26, 2, 107-110. DOI: 10.1097/NCM.0000000000000491

Nadkarni, S. (2021). Indian cruise ship providing quarantine floatel for Sri Lanka crew change. Seatrade Maritime News. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/indian-cruise-ship-providing-quarantine-floatel-sri-lanka-crew-change

Pacific hub ports concept explored for regional crew change and repatriation. The website of the IMO. from: https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/Pages/WhatsNew-1587.aspx

Philippines bans international crew change for vessels arriving from seven countries. Seatrade Maritime News. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulation/philippines-bans-international-crew-change-vessels-arriving-seven-countries

Port Marine Circular No. 02 of 2021. The International Maritime Employers’ Council. http://www.imec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pc21-02.pdf

Poruchnyk A., Kolot A., Mielcarek P., Stoliarchuk Y., & Ilnytskyy D. (2021). Global economic crisis of 2020 and a new paradigm of countercyclical management. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19, 1, 397-415. DOI:10.21511/ppm.19(1).2021.34

Santana, F.N. et al. (2021). A path forward for qualitative research on sustainability in the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustain Sci 16, 1061-1067. DOI: 10.1007/s11625-020-00894-8

Seafarers entering the UK will be exempted from quarantine rules. Safety4sea.com. https://safety4sea.com/seafarers-entering-the-uk-will-be-exempted-from-quarantine-rules/

Sliskovic, A. (2020). Seafarers Well-being in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study. Work, 67, 4, 799-809. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203333

Suez Canal Chief Says Human Error is to Blame for Ever Given Fiasco. Cukute.com. https://cukute.com/en/suez-canal-chief-says-human-error-is-to-blame-for-ever-given-fiasco

The Neptune Declaration Best Practices for Charterers. Global Maritime Forum. https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/neptune-declaration/best-practices-for-charterers

The Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change, 2020. https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/content/2020/12/The-Neptune-Declaration-on-Seafarer-Wellbeing-and-Crew-Change.pdf

Ukraine have joined the list of countries where crew change is prohibited. Sekunda. [The second]. https://www.krme.top/?p=10209 [in Russian].

Updated guidance to vessel crew members and non-crew marine sector workers respecting entry into Canada - SSB No.: 03/2021. Government of Canada. https://cutt.ly/wmjdA9Z

Voytenko, M. (2020). Thailand crew change: open for off-sign, but not for on-sign. Fleetmon. Traking the seven seas. https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2020/30941/thailand-crew-change-open-sign-not-sign/

WHO does not back vaccination passports for now: spokeswoman. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-vaccines/who-does-not-back-vaccination-passports-for-now-spokeswoman-idUSKBN2BT158?il=0

WPSP COVID-19 Guidance Document for Ports. World Ports Sustainability Program. https://sustainableworldports.org/wp-content/uploads/2020-05-18-WPSP-COVID19-Guidance-FIN.pdf

Yazir, D., Şahin, B., Yip, T., Tseng, P-H. (2020). Effects of COVID-19 on maritime industry: a review. International Maritime Health, 71, 4, 253-264. DOI: 10.5603/IMH.2020.0044

.

Адреса редакції

м. Одеса, Україна
Фонтанська дорога, 23
Редакція журналу "Lex Portus"

fb

info@lexportus.net.ua