China recently required a seven-week quarantine for returning Chinese seafarers as part of the country’s increasingly stringent policies to keep the coronavirus out. Under the latest restrictions, Chinese ship crews are required to quarantine for three weeks before returning to China. Then, they will have a mandatory two-week quarantine at the port of arrival and another two weeks in their province before they can meet their families and friends.
According to the International Maritime Organization, ship crews typically take a break after four to six months of sailing. They used to head to another country to board a vessel and disembark in another country before returning home by plane. However, these practices have become increasingly difficult since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The new policy came in addition to the existing prohibition on crew changes for foreign seamen. It also applies to vessels that have reshuffled their crew outside China. These measures are further complicating the already constrained global supply chain. A ship captain said that even a crew with emergency medical needs are not allowed to be treated in China due to the restrictions. Some shipowners said their ships had to wait two weeks to be authorised to enter Chinese ports. They have to re-route their vessels to avoid China’s restrictions, which delays shipments.
