Strict adherence to these 12-step protocols has proved that seafarers are able to change over safely and keep trade flowing. ICS has put forward these comprehensive documents to facilitate the safe rotations of seafarers as well as help protect the health of the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic. With stories recently emerging of crew arriving in Singapore with COVID-19 symptoms (22 July 2020), it is clear that some seafarers, crew and manning companies are ‘not taking seriously’ the protocol of self-imposed isolation (minimum of 14 days) when being rostered for crew change.įor months, ICS has urged the global shipping industry and national governments to adopt its health guidance and 12-step crew change protocols to ensure crew changes can be carried out. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has recently reminded the global shipping industry that failure to adhere to crew change protocols must not be tolerated.Īlarming reports of ship managers and individuals failing to comply with national crew change guidelines have come to ICS’ attention.