Passenger and repatriation flights are essential to allow
stranded seafarers to go home, and for their relief crews to be able to join
ships. New guidance issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) to facilitate those flights marks a further step to alleviate the
ongoing crew change crisis.
The guidance outlines specific recommendations for seafarer
changeover flights, including the need for advanced bilateral communication,
coordination and planning between shipowners, aviation stakeholders and the
relevant authorities. It also highlights the importance of seafarers and
requests States to grant rapid authorization for the entry, departure and transit
of aircraft, including seafarer changeover flights.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his confidence
that this new contribution by the United Nations will have a positive impact on
the crew change crisis. It is estimated that 400,000 seafarers are still
trapped at sea, due to restrictions imposed by Governments in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidance is shared by IMO in Circular Letter
4204/Add.32. It will be reviewed and updated as necessary by ICAO as the global
situation evolves.