Measures introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have brought widespread disruption to normal crew change operations, with many seafarers prevented from disembarking or joining their vessels.

What challenges and restrictions do shipowners/operators face when arranging crew changes in Russia, and how have your local contacts helped to ease the situation?

At Novorossiysk, permission must be granted by the Sanitary Authorities to arrange crew changes. Crew changes for foreign national are prohibited. Crew changes are currently only possible for Russian nationals. Within the Krasnodar region, off-signers must self-quarantine for 14 days.  Those who live outside the Krasnodar region must undergo an observation period of 14 days at special locations at the state’s expense.

Before embarkation, all crew members must have negative COVID-19 test result valid for 3 days.

In Sabetta, restrictions on crew changes came into force on 15 March with no crew changes allowed and no flights available.

At Nakhodka, crew change for foreign nationalities prohibited. Crew changes are currently only possible for Russian nationals. Within the Primorsky region, off-signers must self-quarantine for 14 days. Those who live outside the Primorsky region must undergo an observation period of 14 days at special locations approved by Rospotrebnadzor.

How many crew change operations have you successfully executed since COVID-19 lockdowns started?

Since 15 March, all flight reservations and crew changes arrangements have been cancelled.

Prior to that, GAC Russia conducted crew change for 20 off-signers and 20 on-signers conducted at Novorossiysk.

From 1 February to 15 March, crew changes were carried out as usual at Sabetta: 27 on-signers (7 of which were non-Russian) and 24 off-signers (2 non-Russian).

There is great uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic; how long it will last, and what its impact will be. How are you managing this from a crew change and lay-ups perspective? What are your expectations for the coming months?

The crew change prohibition is expected to remain in place until at least the end of August.

Source: GAC