IMO-Guidelines for crew change
IMO has now prepared a 12 point guide to enable authorities and industry players to carry out crew changes on ships. The guidelines have been prepared in collaboration with a number of international organizations, including the International Chamber of Shipping, ICS.
Functional national guidelines for crew changes have been estabished, and these will continue to apply in Norway. However many Norwegian shipping companies experience major problems with the implementation of crew changes abroad.
“Many seafarers have to stay on board longer than usual. We are very pleased that the IMO has now taken the initiative to establish routines that ensure that crews can travel to and from the vessel as normal. Further it is important to get all coastal states to implement these guidelines to secure the transportation of goods around the world.”, says acting Director of Shipping, Lars Alvestad.
Individual shipping companies must, based on the vessel's operation and operating area, consider to what extent the measures proposed by the IMO should be implemented practically, to ensure that crew change can be carried out. .
Link to Shipowners Association’s own article on the same theme