An expert discussion on the seafarer crisis has revealed a reversal on recent progress from governments on allowing crew change has put workers' well-being and safety at increased risk.

A decision by Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia to tighten immigration procedures amid an increase in coronavirus infections and cases of fake medical certificates has been major setback on efforts to relieve crew on ships.

Speaking at the Capital Link webinar on the crew challenges, Euronav Shipmanagement general manager Stamatis Bourboulis said the difficulties were already becoming apparent.

“We thought we were reaching a plateau but then there were changes,” he said. “We fear we are facing deterioration when countries are closing down. It does not make crew change effective.”

International Chamber of Shipping chief executive Guy Platten said the numbers of seafarers trapped at sea are still high. He said the current estimates of the numbers working beyond their contracted period of employment are still upwards of 250,000.

Many have now been working on ships for more than a year while there are an equal number of seafarers without employment waiting at home to replace them at sea.

Protection and indemnity insurer Steamship Mutual managing director Chris Adams said that the current situation is a recipe for a disaster at sea.

“If you have a tired and demoralised crew then that must increase the chances of an accident. In any other transport industry if the workers were so tired and demoralised there would be an outcry,” he said.

International Maritime Organization director of legal affairs Frederick Kenny said that by continuing to work and transport goods seafarers are saving the world from a potential economic crisis. He said he hoped that the IMO would review proposals for “enforceable regulations” later this autumn.

However, Stuart Ostrow, founder and president of ShipMoney, pointed to the success that cruiseship operators had in repatriating “tens of thousands” of crew through industry cooperation. He questioned whether the same success could be achieved in commercial shipping.

“CLIA [Cruiseship Lines Industry Association] did a great job in coordinating all this and there was great collaboration between the cruise companies,” he pointed out.