Philippines expands crew change ban to 33 countries

By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas Correspondent

In a bid to curtail the mutated strand of the COVID-19 virus, the government of the Philippines has officially expanded a ban on crew changes from vessels originating from 33 countries.

According to Seatrade Maritime News, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) chose to bar seafarers disembarking in the Philippines because of the pandemic. This is especially the case from vessels originating from the United Kingdom and South Africa.

PPA added Pakistan, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Oman, and the People’s Republic of China as countries where crew members are now banned. Two days prior, the PPA ordered a ban on crews from 28 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, and the United States.

“All vessels coming from the mentioned countries within 14 days from January 1 to 15 shall be disallowed to conduct any kind of crew change activity in any of the 6 crew change facilities in the country, namely: PPA’s Manila South Harbor, Port Capinpin in Bataan, Batangas Port, and Sasa Wharf in Davao as well as CPA’s Port of Cebu and SBMA’s Port of Subic,” the authority said in a Facebook post.

The PPA issued the temporary crew change ban, which lasts until January 15, 2001. With the expansion of the ban list, the world can expect the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to further extend the deadline.

Seafarers who are Filipino nationals who arrive on vessels from these 33 countries aren’t banned from disembarkation in the last 14 days. However, some ports mandate the transfer of crew to facilities that maintain strict 14-day quarantines.

The Philippines is the largest supplier of seafarers. In the country itself, there are 491,258 reported coronavirus cases and 9,554 deaths.

The is a developing story.