The European Union has come up with a new plan to speed up the repatriation of crew during the coronavirus pandemic.
Thousands and thousands of seafarers have found themselves stranded on vessels or in port due to travel restrictions.
Now the European Commission has introduced guidelines to help them with health checks and repatriation arrangements.
They also call on member states to create a network of ports where crew changes can take place without delays.
Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean said: "Seafarers are keeping the vital channels for our economy and supply chains open, as 75% of EU trade and 30% of all goods with the EU are transported by sea.
"The guidelines include sanitary advice, recommendations for crew changes, disembarking, and repatriation for seafarers and passengers."
She added: "I am asking the member states to designate ports where fast-track crew changes take place and recall that cruise operators have a responsibility to their customers and employees to bring everyone safely home."
Visas at the border
Around 100,000 crew per month come to the end of contracts.
For many, the port of arrival/departure is outside their home country, and many of those serving on EU-interest ships are non-EU nationals.
For these seafarers, who need visas to disembark within the EU and who could not apply for them due to the current situation, member states are being told to grant these at the border so that they may be quickly repatriated.
The guidelines call on states to designate ports around EU shores for fast-track crew changes, with adequate facilities for seafarers to undertake medical checks, quarantine if required by the country in question, and transport connections onward to their home country.
The Commission also said cruiseship operators should take overall responsibility for arranging the repatriation of passengers and crews from their vessels, including from non-EU ports.
It also called on flag states to help the operators identify the appropriate ports for disembarkation and support them in arranging disembarkation and repatriation of their customers and crew.
"If individuals on board are known to be infected with the coronavirus, the vessels should be directed to a port in close proximity where hospitals have sufficient capacity," it added.
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) secretary general Guy Platten said: "We welcome the leadership provided by the European Commission in their call to EU member states to facilitate the essential movement of seafarers and marine personnel.
"Crew change is a massive problem for the entire shipping industry, in addition to ship operators based in Europe, and we hope that this quick response to our calls to the G20 for action globally will act as a catalyst for other nations, and that the G20, in conjunction with IMO, will quickly put in place pragmatic and coordinated arrangements to allow crew changes to take place."
He added: "Seafarers are the unsung heroes keeping supply chains open. It is right that we support them as they quietly support all of us."
