Entry ban on crew and ships from India could threaten global trade

Singapore

INDIA'S coronavirus crisis has posed some challenges for shipping firms in terms of crew changes, and some say the situation, if prolonged, may pose a threat to global trade.

Shipping executives observed that several ports are disallowing crew changes for vessels coming from India, or with crew who are from India, due to the rising infection rates in the populous country. While they are able to manage at times by roping in seafarers of other nationalities, the move is only a stop-gap measure - and global trade will be at risk if crew changes cannot be carried out routinely.