Swedish owner Thun Tankers has endured another long struggle to get its crew on to a new ship in China.
In April, the company revealed how difficult it was to take delivery of the 18,600-dwt product tanker Thun Liffey from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard.
This week, it has successfully taken control of the 18,650-dwt Thun Lundy from the same yard, but found travel restrictions had not changed much, and may be even tougher now.
Chief commercial officer Joakim Lund told TradeWinds: "It's actually not changed much. It's still tricky, maybe even trickier than before, but we are now more experienced at how to deal with this."
The main stumbling block is China continually changing entry rules for different nationalities as infection levels ebb and flow globally, he added.
"At the moment it is very difficult to get Filipinos in," Lund said.
There are also strict rules about the UK and Sweden, where infection rates have been higher after the countries were slower to impose lockdowns.
The COO of the Swedish company said: "You've read about Sweden. We're not very popular."
Thun turned to a Dutch crew member who had to self-isolate in the Netherlands for two weeks, during which time the company had to enter into high-level talks with the Chinese embassy, with the help of the Dutch foreign ministry.
A visit to the embassy
The seafarers had to spend a day at the Chinese embassy in the Netherlands before returning to self-isolation to await an approved flight out to China.
There they spent another two weeks in quarantine.
Lund said there was talk of a 28-day period, but the company managed to get them on board after 14 days.
Medical checks were carried out every day.
"They stayed in a state-approved hotel. We tried to keep them motivated with internet access and online training," Lund added. "We provided them with food, as the food was not great in the hotel. We did it, but again it was a struggle. The world has not changed that much."
The vessel is the fifth in a series of tankers built by Thun in China.
It will join its Gothia Tanker Alliance network.
Technical management will be carried out by MF Shipping Group.
The previous delivery in April involved a Russia crew member who could only obtain visas if they proved they had not recently visited a European country.
The Thun Lundy was originally due for a sea trial in April and delivery in May.
