SOUTH AFRICAN ports hit by crew change crisis

Vessels seeking supplies or crew changes in southern Africa have been making contingency plans to call elsewhere as the new strain of the virus, first detected in Botswana and thought to be far more contagious than earlier variants, has spooked many. “We are expecting a longer quarantine period, tighter COVID-19 testing regime and restrictions for vessels coming from South Africa and neighbouring countries,” warned Carl Schou, president and CEO, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, with many managers already reporting crew change cancellations in South Africa. Guy Platten, secretary general, of the International Chamber of Shipping, said, “His fears that unless coordinated action is taken by world leaders there could be a return to the peak of the crew change crisis in 2020 where more than 400,000 seafarers were impacted by harsh travel restrictions.”