As of 2020, the Philippines has become a crew change hub with restrictions on hundreds of major ports across the globe. As shipping agents work remotely around the clock to ensure logistical flow and smooth crew transitions in the age of Coronavirus, the slight change of plans in the shipping world this 2020 has also created opportunities for port growth, particularly in Manila.
Filipinos account for the largest share of seafarers in the world and the Philippines may grow to become one of the major crew changing hubs for ships in the upcoming months.
With countries like Japan that rely on Filipinos for 75% of their crew needs, the Philippines have created Green Lane protocols for crew changes during the Coronavirus pandemic. The Green Lane for seafarers is a speedy and safe crew repatriation process that decreases the chances for delay and costs. This was put in place due to the number of diverted ships to the Philippines during the virus outbreak.
The number of vessels visiting the Philippines for the first time has also increased in 2020. With quarantine time restrictions set in place and heightened traffic in ports such as Manila, tug boats have been used to transport higher crew volumes due to the shortage of crew boats transporting essential workers.
Centrally located between China, Japan, Australia, and the U.S, other ports like Panila, Subic Bay, and Capinpin in the Philippines have been designated as crew change locations as Manila evolves to compensate for the increase in ship traffic. This has also created more growth and opportunity for shipping agents in this sector.
Following an international crew change summit in the UK, the Philippines was one of the thirteen countries to have signed up for new international measures that will open foreign borders for seafarers. This also increases commercial flights for incoming and outgoing crews.
“By becoming a crew change capital of the world, we would not only prime up our seafaring and maritime industry. We also expect to boost our hospitality industry,” Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) general manager Jay Daniel Santiago said in an interview with Splash247.com.
The uncertainty of the COVID times has shifted global transportation and as shipping agents network remotely and overseas to compensate for the changes and obstacles brought in 2020, the Philippines holds the potential to become a crew change hot spot because of its convenient location and accessibility.
Just in the last four months, 734 ships have entered the Port of Manila for crew changes, and with the advanced Philippine Green Lane process, crew exchanges are swift and safe. Most of all the systems put in place are helping reduce the risk of spreading the Coronavirus. To gain access to competent shipping agents in the Philippines, go to https://www.shiply.com/us/load-board where you can find both adequate service and affordability in each deal.