Crew changes for foreign seafarers (update)

09 Jun 2020 / Colombo & Galle, Sri Lanka

The process for conducting crew changes via commercial flights for foreign seafarers has been formally approved and the government has appointed a Private Public Partnership (PPP) to assist ship agents in this regard for operating domestic transport, PCR testing & Isolation Centres.

The new process will include PCR tests to be conducted for all foreign crew members, accommodating at an isolation centre (hotel approved by the Ministry of Health) until the results are received and onward repatriation via sea/airport to vessel or departure flight.

Below is a summary of the critical aspects which has to be strictly followed during the process:

  1. Currently 120 foreign seafarers are allowed in Sri Lanka at any given time.

  2. As of now, crew changes are permitted at Colombo & Galle ports only. We shall keep you posted once the government open up for crew changes at other ports (Trincomalee / Hambantota) as well.

  3. Prior notice of 72 hours is mandatory for any seafarer embarking/disembarking at any Sri Lankan port along with the required documents. It is, however, preferable to receive information at earliest possible as the accommodation capacity at isolation centres is limited.

  4. As per advise received from the PPP, it would take 24-48 hours to complete the transfer process of an on-signer to the port upon landing and for an off-signer to the airport upon disembarkation.

  5. Upon arrival at Sri Lanka, on-signers may stay up to 5 days & off-signers up to 7 days in Sri Lanka awaiting the arrival of vessel/departure flight.

  6. Signing-on crew arriving by commercial flights are required to undergo a PCR test within the preceding 5 days to the flight departure and with a negative result.

  7. Signing-off crew from the ship to be certified by vessel Master for not having fever or other COVID-19 symptoms.

  8. Crew members to stay at an Isolation Centre pending results from PCR test (Isolation Centre would be a hotel approved by the Ministry of Health with WiFi & related amenities on full-board basis).

  9. The PPP requires 100% advance funding prior to undertaking the crew change.

GAC will facilitate and coordinate this entire process on your behalf in Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, execution of bulk crew changes via chartered flights and emergency medical evacuations is currently allowed. Approvals will be given on a case-by-case basis.

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Sri Lanka, contact GAC Sri Lanka at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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