Governments around the world continue to fail to see the link between seafarers, seaborne cargo, and goods for sale in shops.
As the material below demonstrates, Australia simply cannot hope that its vital national interest in facilitating maritime crew changes will be taken care of by other countries.
Mainland China
China is still “very hesitant to allow foreign seafarers into China, reports the China Liaison Office at the International Chamber of Shipping.
Adding that crew changes in China are “nearly impossible” the ICS recommends against carrying out crew changes of non-Chinese crew in China.
Crew changes of Chinese nationals are possible, the ICS says, adding that disembarkation of sick or injured crew may be possible but close liaison with local agents is recommended.
Hong Kong
The Fragrant Harbour city is recording several hundred cases a day of COVID-19, according to the ICS. As of 29 July only commercial vessels with cargo operations will be permitted to enter into Hong Kong waters for crew change. Crew arriving at the airport are subject to mandatory COVID-19 tests and will also be required to stay at a “Temporary Specimen Collection Centre” for the test results.
Philippines
Numerous foreign-government consulates in the Philippines (a major seafarer nation) have reduced or suspended operations. The European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents along with the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents has provided the following updates of consulates in the Philippines:
- Netherlands: consulate will work from home and that will result in lower volumes of seafarer visas being processed
- Germany: allows pre-scheduled appointments and consular walk-ins
- Spain: has suspended all consular procedures (all visas) except for emergencies
- Finland: is closed. No personnel work in the Philippines. The Embassy in Malaysia attends to Philippines emergencies remotely
- Romania: is carrying out limited visa-work for seafarers
- Hungary: will only deal with emergency visas
- Italy: open for business but with reduced capacity
- Denmark: closed for two weeks. Will only handle in very urgent matters
- Belgium: working with reduced capacity; will accept reduced visa workload from certain categories of persons such as seafarers
- Sweden: skeleton workforce; will only accept pre-booked appointments
