Chinese crew! Overseas shifts, this port has opened a hole! European ports are also following... Shi

The issue of the crew change crisis persists into 2022. In the past period of time, a large number of newbuildings of foreign shipowners have been completed and launched in Chinese shipyards, and the demand for Chinese crew has greatly increased.

According to relevant data, in 2021, China has undertaken 965 shipbuilding orders of 22.8 million CGT. As of the end of December, China's "shipbuilding output, new orders and hand-held orders accounted for 45.5%, 53.3% and 47.8% of the global shipbuilding market share, respectively. ——China has surpassed South Korea with a market share of nearly 50% and ranks first in the world.

A large number of newbuildings have been delivered in Chinese shipyards, and a large number of Chinese crew members have been dispatched to the ship, which is a favorable situation for Chinese crew members, but at the same time, it also makes the problem of difficulty in changing Chinese crew members even more prominent. In 2021, a large number of Chinese crew members will be stranded overseas, and even some Chinese crew members. Since May last year, due to various reasons, the ship owner has been stranded abroad, and the cost of the shipowner has greatly increased, which has also led to the situation that the shipowner has gradually replacd the Chinese crew with the crew of other countries.

However, recently, Chinese crews have begun to have passages and openings when changing shifts overseas.

Port of Sohar in Oman becomes shift change option for Chinese crew

It is reported that the crew change of the Chinese crew in Sohar port in Oman opened an opening. The crew members are quarantined for 14 days before returning to China by plane, and they can be repatriated after being tested by the local nucleic acid testing agency designated by the Chinese embassy in Oman. return home.

An agent from a shipping agency said that Chinese crew members can now "unrestricted" shift changes at the port of Sohar in Oman, as long as they undergo a full 14-day quarantine before returning to China, plus the testing center designated by the Chinese embassy in Oman. Test results, they can arrange crew visas upon request.

According to a notice issued by the Chinese Embassy in Oman, passengers should obtain a negative nucleic acid test report within 3 days before boarding the flight to China. The test report is calculated from the date of issuance. The test report shall contain necessary information such as the name of the individual, the name of the testing institution, the results of the test report, and the time when the test report was issued.

Certificate of Negative Corona Virus Nucleic Acid Test Stamped and Certified by the Ministry of Health of Oman

The opening has been opened, and many Chinese crew members have chosen to change shifts after the closed-loop management of Oman Sohar Port, but some shipping companies have also reported that there are risks. Some Chinese crew members have been infected during their arrival in Oman, which has led to their stay abroad.

At present, the "fear" of the new crown virus in many countries has declined, and the prevention and control policies of the new crown epidemic have been gradually relaxed in 2022. European countries have taken greater relaxation in this regard.

Norway lifts all Covid-19 restrictions

From 12 February, all Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in Norway, and regulations for ships, crew, tourists, border crossings and shore leave have returned to their pre-Covid-19 pandemic status.

Arrivals are no longer required to participate in pre-entry Covid-19 restrictions, register for entry or undergo quarantine, public testing stations at the border have been demobilized and all testing is arranged at the request of individuals and/or their employers.

Crew can board or disembark in Norwegian ports. Personnel from third-party countries are required to hold a Seafarer's Qualification Certificate. As a crew member of a country that has signed the ILO 108 or 185 treaty, you can travel to and from Norway through a non-Schengen country without a Schengen visa.

For seafarers of non-ILO 108/185 nationality, it is possible to apply for a Schengen visa, but applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approval is not guaranteed. Generally, immigration authorities are reluctant to issue visas for planned crew changes.

European countries such as France, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland announced on February 2 that they had begun or planned to relax some epidemic prevention and control restrictions.

France began to ease the first phase of restrictions on February 2, including the removal of mandatory requirements for wearing masks outdoors, the cancellation of audience limits for theaters, concerts, sporting events and other events, from "mandatory" to "strongly recommended" to stay at home office.
From February 16, France will enter the second phase of lifting the epidemic prevention restrictions, when nightclubs can resume business, concerts, sports events and bars can once again set up standing areas, and eating and drinking will be allowed in stadiums, cinemas and public transport.

Finland, the UK, Ireland and neighbouring Austria have also lifted restrictions as they seek to return to normal life before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Industry insiders reminded that although some countries have a tendency to relax epidemic prevention and control, and the crew change channel has opened up to a certain extent, the crew change not only involves overseas countries and regions, but is also closely related to the policy of crew returning to the country. In addition, the crew is overseas. There is also a risk of infection in the process of changing shifts, so crew changes are still challenging and difficult.