One of the less reported side effects hitting global supply chains in the wake of the coronavirus emanating from China surrounds crew changes with thousands of exasperated seafarers unable to get home on time and crew travel desks working overtime to get crew to ships in different locations. Ships are having to deviate course to change crew and get supplies, Splash has learnt.
On account of the large number of coronavirus cases in China, now in excess of 44,000, all shipmanagers contacted by Splash have for now suspended all crew changes at Chinese ports, medical emergencies excepted. Other port states like Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines have added their own limitations on crew change for ships that have called China as their last port of call. The consequent impact on crew repatriation and despatch has been enormous, providing a very significant human kink in global trade.