India battles corona crisis by vaccinating mariners in Mumbai

India has started a vaccination programme for mariners in Mumbai as countries around the world impose travel restrictions on her seafarers, preventing them from carrying out crew changes.

Singapore, Hong Kong, Fujairah, and Indonesia have all declared that they will not allow recent travellers from India to disembark or carry out crew changes at their ports.

India’s Directorate General of Shipping said: “It is highly advised that as far as possible seafarers get themselves vaccinated before signing on.”

Industry leaders have described the escalating coronavirus crisis in India as a nightmare and fear that if the virus spreads to the world’s shipping fleets, the whole industry could be paralysed.