The June Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator shows a 24.1% increase in the number of seafarers onboard vessels beyond their contract expiry.

The Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASA) has hit out at charterers who claim to support seafarers yet demand “no-crew change” clauses in contracts.

The Philippines has joined a growing list of countries that is banning crew change for foreign seafarers vessels that have called at Indian sub-continent nations in the previous 14 days as well some Middle East countries.

The global crew change crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and is set to be even worse this year according to top ship managers.

Shipping companies and charterers have come together with charities in an emergency relief fund for seafarers and their families devastated by the Covid crisis in India and other countries.

Vaccination being made mandatory before joining ship is just one of the numerous challenges being faced by Indian seafarers as the Covid-19 pandemic threatens to overwhelm the country’s health infrastructure.

Singapore has banned crew change for seafarers with recent travel to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

Ship and crew managers are bracing themselves continued, and possibly even bigger, challenges with crew change as new Covid-19 variants emerge, and infections spike in key seafaring nations.

Singapore is barring crew change for seafarers with recent travel to India following a huge spike of Covid-19 cases in the country.

Crew change remains a top challenge in the industry according to the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), and both industry and authorities are pushing for a global vaccination programme for seafarers.