- The Philippines has ended its temporary ban on international crew change for seafarers from vessels which had called at a list of 36 nations.
- According to shipping agency GAC new guidelines have been issued for crew change from 1 February.
- This is with reference to the Resolutions Nos.96 & 97 of the Philippines Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).
- The new guidelines see crew change reverting to position it was prior to 30 December when the temporary ban was introduced due to the strains of the Covid-19 virus.
A Seatrade Maritime News reveals that both Filipino and foreign seafarers are allowed to disembark in any of the established crew changes hubs, notwithstanding the recorded port of calls of their ships, subject to the existing protocols of the One Stop Shop (OSS) for Seafarers.
Change in hubs
The Philippines has change hubs in Manila South Harbour, Port Capinpin in Orion, Bataan, Port of Sasa in Davao and Port of Batangas.
“Other provisions under the Green Lane Program for Seafarers of the national government shall be in effect,” GAC said.
Disembarking seafarers have to quarantine at facilities designated under the One Stop Shop (OSS) for Seafarers until testing negative in PCR Covid-19 test which is taken on the sixth day after arrival.
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Source: Seatrade Maritime News
