The world's largest container shipping company, AP Moller-Maersk, has decided to cancel all crew changes until 14 April.
The shipping giant wants to protect the welfare of thousands of seafarers working on its 749-ship fleet, according to Danish union Metal Maritime.
The union is supporting the decision and will meet management later this week to clarify the consequences and agree details on how to resolve the crisis situation caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
"It has not been an easy decision to make, but as things progress minute by minute we see no other way out," said Niels Bruus, head of marine human resources at Maersk, in a statement.
Maersk has told crew members that travel will expose them to high risks in situations where the company may not be able to help them.
The Copenhagen-listed company said that cancelling changes will minimise the risk of infection on board ships.
Right thing to do
"Since last week, we have been in close contact with the shipping companies — including Maersk — on both the development of the situation and various measures that the shipping companies are considering," said Metal Maritime chairman Ole Philisen in a statement.
"The approach is that this is a crisis situation [and] that we have to find constructive solutions from each side of the table," he said.
"We are really glad that seafarers are not sent out on trips, now that no one can say what the world's approach to border closures will be."
After all, he added, any journey could lead to greater exposure to becoming infected or contributing to the disease's spread.
"So, based on the safety of the individual seafarer, Maersk's actions are the right thing in my eyes," Philisen said.
Maersk is working to get an overview of the immediate consequences for the individual seafarers.
This includes examining questions of breach of contract by not being replaced, as well as the potential expiration of certificates.
Earlier Tuesday Danica crewing agency boss Henrik Jensen advised that crews were safer on board, but added that seafarer changes were becoming almost impossible due to travel bans anyway.
Mass repatriation
Meanwhile, Norwegian ropax group Color Line, which is now only carrying freight, announced it needs to repatriate almost 2,000 crew as a result of suspending passenger traffic.
It is not laying off staff, who are being helped by the Norwegian government, as has also happened in Denmark.
Chief executive Trond Kleivdal said a good and constructive dialogue had been established with unions to ensure a proper process for all employees affected.
"The return of the almost 2,000 employees is a temporary action that can be cancelled at short notice, because we must ensure that the company is ready to start again when the authorities again allow passenger traffic between Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany," added Kleivdal.
Fjord Line and DFDS take action
Another Norwegian operator, Fjord Line, has also reduced sailings and is repatriating 100 of its 700 workers, according to domestic media.
Baltic Sea ferry services have been badly hit, with Stena Line laying off 950 workers on Tuesday as traffic plunged.
Danish ro-ro group DFDS has sent 500 employees home from two ships that have been sailing between Copenhagen and Oslo.
They will continue to be paid.
“Of course, the ships are laid up with great consequences for a ferry route such as workplace and business. We are therefore incredibly relieved that the social partners have in a record time succeeded in agreeing an aid package that greatly benefits the employees on the Oslo route," the company wrote in an email to staff seen by Maritime Denmark.
