Thoothukudi: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of seafarers extended their service on board after spending months at sea. They could not be replaced after completion of service period.
Under this circumstances, V.O. Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu is spearheading the efforts of 'crew change' and has successfully completed 202 crew changes as of 15 June 2020.
According to International Maritime Regulations to ensure safe ship operations, the crew members need to be changed with new members for well-being of the crew and prevention of fatigue.
The Shipping Ministry had come out with a standard operating procedure (SOP) for easing out sign-on and sign-off process at the Indian ports.
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COVID-19 tests and quarantine of crew were ensured before the sing-on and sign-off operations as per the above mentioned SOP.
A total of 88 crew members have signed-on and 114 crew members have signed off on 32 occasions, said a press release from one of the major ports in India.
India is the second largest supplier of seafarers, after the Philippines. As per industry estimates, about one lakh seafarers are engaged in Indian and foreign flag cargo vessels across the globe.
Thousands of Indian seafarers are stuck aboard cruise ships and cargo vessels in far off waters, and maritime bodies have been demanding from the government strategies for bringing them home fearing that delays might result in disruption in supply chain.
