Oman has become the latest country to relax its crew change rules allowing it to take place in “special circumstances”.
The Middle East nation has outlined the conditions under which crews will be allowed to leave their ships, according to agency company GAC.
These include the crew having served their maximum time on board and no further extension if the employment contract is granted by the flag state.
Changes will also be allowed if the crew is no longer fit to work on board the ship or on compassionate grounds, such as the death of a family member.
In addition, vessel owners must be able to provide flights out of Oman to ensure departing crew leave the country immediately.
“As normal flights are not available out of Oman, special flights should be arranged by the vessel owner,” GAC said.
“In cases where crew do not fly out immediately, they will be kept under quarantine in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations and procedures until they fly out of the country.”
Figures from International Chamber of Shipping and the International Maritime Employers’ Council suggest 150,000 seafarers need to be changed by 15 May, up from 100,000 under normal circumstances.
Of them, 40,000 crew members are from the Philippines, 25,000 from the European Union, the UK and Norway, 20,000 from India, 15,000 from Ukraine, and 10,000 each from China and Russia. The remaining 30,000 are from other countries.
