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BIMCO launches Covid-19 crew change clause

International shipping association BIMCO has launched a special Covid-19 crew change clause for time charter parties. The new clause is designed to give owners the liberty to deviate for crew changes under tightly defined circumstances. It also provides an option for charterers to contribute to the crew change in recognition of the potentially high cost of making a Covid-19 related crew change.

“Although the cost of crew changes is usually for owners’ account under a charter party, the extraordinary and unusual circumstances created by Covid-19 have left some owners unable to conduct crew changes on the ship’s trade route. With crew now onboard for periods extending beyond their contracts of employment, owners need to have the flexibility to deviate to an alternative place if crew changes can’t be done at the places where the ship is ordered by charterers. This clause is designed to help them with that process and to encourage charterers to assist,” said Soren Larsen, deputy secretary general at BIMCO.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.

Comments

  1. Congratulations to BIMCO to tread where others did not dare – for reasons known only to them. I hope that this shame others to do something similar to protect the asset in shiping more valuable all ships and commodities put together. I refer to seafarers and all facets of their welfare.

  2. Special thanks to BIMCO. It’s a really good and affordable initiative for seafarer’s.

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