Denmark is tweaking its visa system to allow stranded seafarers to sign off from their ships in the country.
Danish Shipping said the shipowners' association, the government, the maritime section of the Danish Metalworkers' Union and the Danish Engineers' Association “found a solution whereby stranded seafarers on board Danish ships can come home”.
“The solution is to apply the visa rules in such a way that seafarers who need to do so can obtain a visa to enter or travel through Denmark, so that they can sign on or off duty in Denmark or neighbouring countries,” Danish Shipping said.
The association's chief executive, Anne Steffensen, said the group has been working to get seafarers home to their family for some time.
“I am very pleased that the government has listened and found a temporary model that allows crew changes. Now it is a matter of relieving as many seafarers as quickly as possible," she said.
However, Danish Shipping said upon entry into Denmark, the industry itself must “take a number of precautions for seafarers, in order to minimise the risk of the spread of infection”.
Special departments will reportedly be set up for seafarers at airports to avoid them coming into contact with others. It will also be possible for foreign seafarers to be tested for Covid-19.
In addition, shipping companies must ensure that seafarers are isolated in hotels, Danish Shipping said.
"It is an extraordinary situation that calls for extraordinary solutions. We are going to do everything we can to change crews in a responsible way so that the seafarers can come home," said Steffensen.
As many as 300,000 seafarers have been stuck aboard their ships, some for a year or more, as most national governments have been slow to allow crew changes due to fears over the spread of Covid-19.
The International Maritime Organization, together with labour and industry groups, released a 12-step plan in early May covering a seafarer's journey from home to the ship and back in an effort to alleviate pandemic fears.
Earlier this month, more than a dozen countries, including Denmark, agreed to measures to help get seafarers home after a summit in London.
The countries reportedly "agreed to open up borders to seafarers and increase the number of commercial flights" to help with repatriation efforts.
On Monday, TradeWinds reported that India had said it would allow foreign nationals to leave and join ships at the country’s ports.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said that crew changes will have to be conducted in line with standard operating procedures which India first outlined in April for Indian nationals.
