Crew changes top business impact for readers from COVID-19

The March poll on Seatrade Maritime News asked readers which of 10 factors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic had had the most impact on their business.

Reflecting a huge concern in the industry as a whole over countries barring crew changes as part of travel bans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 some 40.1% of respondents in the poll cited crew changes as having the most impact on their business. A further 3.8% choose the related issue of shore leave for seafarers.

Two other factors that figured quite strongly for readers in terms of impact were 14% saying loss of business/charter hire, and some 14.6% citing the impact on business related travel.

Operational issues split over internal and external dealings were the biggest impact of 15.8% of readers, with 8.2% citing issues of dealing with customers, and 7.6% day-to-day operations.

Difficulty in making port calls and surveys and ship repair were both cited by 3.8% of respondents.

Perhaps surprisingly some 3.8% said that the virus outbreak had had no impact, however, this could reflect that when the poll started at the beginning of March many countries were yet to feel the real impact of COVID-19. Meanwhile no-one cited legal costs as the biggest impact, despite the concern over contract terminations, but maybe they have yet to receive the bills.

Related:IMO urges travel ban exemption for seafarers