Shipping Agents: Will The Philippines Become The Crew Change Capital Of The World?

As of 2020, the Philippines has become a crew change hub with restrictions on hundreds of major ports across the globeAs shipping agents work remotely around the clock to ensure logistical flowsmooth 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 worldthe 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 pandemicThe Green Lane for seafarers is a speedysafe crew repatriation process that decreases the chances for delaycostsThis 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 2020With quarantine time restrictions set in placeheightened 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,the U.S, other ports like Panila, Subic Bay,Capinpin in the Philippines have been designated as crew change locations as Manila evolves to compensate for the increase in ship trafficThis has also created more growthopportunity 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 seafarersThis also increases commercial flights for incomingoutgoing crews.

“By becoming a crew change capital of the world, we would not only prime up our seafaringmaritime industryWe 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 transportationas shipping agents network remotelyoverseas to compensate for the changesobstacles brought in 2020, the Philippines holds the potential to become a crew change hot spot because of its convenient locationaccessibility.

Just in the last four months, 734 ships have entered the Port of Manila for crew changes,with the advanced Philippine Green Lane process, crew exchanges are swiftsafeMost of all the systems put in place are helping reduce the risk of spreading the CoronavirusTo gain access to competent shipping agents in the Philippines, go to https://www.shiply.com/us/load-board where you can find both adequate serviceaffordability in each deal.