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Hong Kong ‘has role to play’ in helping stranded crew

Hong Kong Shipowners Asoociation and Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association have reiterated the importance of facilitating crew change operations and supporting seafarers, while also taking into consideration public concerns about imported coronavirus infection cases, which have included seafarers. They have voluntarily suspended crew changes for three weeks

‘The industry fully supports the government to take all necessary measures to protect the local community,’ the two key shipping associations said

HONG Kong shipping associations have reiterated the importance of facilitating crew change operations and supporting seafarers, while also taking into consideration public concerns about imported coronavirus infection cases, which have included seafarers among them.

While stressing the importance of crew change operations to the global community, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association said “the industry fully supports the government to take all necessary measures to protect the local community”.

These measures include, among others, requiring incoming seafarers to take a virus test within 48 hours prior to departing for the Hong Kong airport, and to take another virus test on their arrival at the airport.

In reaction to the rapidly evolving health situation, they added that they had asked their member companies to postpone or reschedule crew changes in the Port of Hong Kong for at least three weeks, unless absolutely necessary for ship safety or on compassionate grounds.

Emphasising that seafarers are key workers who need to be able to get to and from work just like other first responders,

“The coronavirus pandemic impacts us all. Nobody can tell how this will play out eventually, but what we do know is that shipping, as the facilitator of the world supply chain, is indispensable for human beings to win this battle,” said Hong Kong Shipowners Association chairman Bjorn Hojgaard.

“Many other major ports in the world have already gradually made special arrangements to facilitate crew changes. Hong Kong, as part of the global community and a global maritime centre, should play its role too.”

Acknowledging the 300,000 seafarers still stuck out at sea and the urgent need to relieve them, Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association head Roberto Giannetta said: “In this difficult time for all, the most important thing is for the global community, including Hong Kong, to work  together for the common good.”

Mr Giannetta pointed to the Hong Kong government’s established mechanism to facilitate crew change operations, urged all shipping companies, agents and seafarers to continue to strictly follow the rules and protocols.

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