Japan has decided to allow crew change to take place, despite closing its borders to non-residents and declaring a state of emergency in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures.

There were concerns that increasingly strict measures to control the spread of coronavirus would see it follow the Philippines, which has placed a ban on seafarers arriving from 21 countries, as several other countries tighten crew change rules.

After political deliberation, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has confirmed that an exception will be maintained for seafarers allowing crew change within its boarders for the time being.

“More than 90% of Japanese trade is carried on ships and this must be allowed to continue,” MLIT maritime department head Shinichiro Otusbo said in Japan Maritime Daily. “For that reason, smooth crew exchange is necessary.”

He added the MLIT will continue to discuss the matter with other government departments.

Business travel

The Japanese government, headed by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, will also continue to allow short-term business travel in accordance with a bilateral agreement it holds with 11 neighbouring Asian countries, including Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam and China.

The state of emergency is set to continue until 7 February.

Ship agency GAC earlier said that flight cancellations are still likely to make crew movement more difficult in Japan, as TradeWinds has reported. Crews which have visited the UK or South Africa in the previous 14 days will also not be allowed to enter the country.

However, Japan's decision will come as relief for shipyards at their busiest time of the year for newbuilding deliveries.

Many vessels completed in late 2020 will have been carried over to this year to secure a 2021 delivery date.

Some are sceptical over how long the exemption for seafarers will be maintained. There is still a strong lobby group within Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party calling for a complete ban on non-residents entering the country, without exception.

The country has been recording more than 7,000 infections each day.