International Chamber of Shipping to discuss coronavirus' effect on crew changes, shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping is holding a conference call Thursday to discuss the effect of coronavirus-induced restrictions on crew changes and international shipping, ICS Secretary General Guy Patten said in a statement Wednesday.

"The issue of crew change that has arisen due to the coronavirus should be of particular concern to the international community. Every day, seafarers across the world are providing a front-line service to the global economy. Limitations on crew change (the replacement of one of the ship's crew members with another one) have the potential to cause serious disruption to the flow of trade," Patten said.

The spread of the coronavirus has resulted in many countries closing their borders and restricting port entry, Patten said.

"On Thursday March 19, ICS will be using our convening power to bring national associations from around the world together for the first of an ongoing set of meetings designed to identify swift and effective solutions," he said.

"This meeting will not be a 'one-off,' but the beginning of a series of regular conference calls with our national associations in response to the significant challenge facing the world, our seafarers and the global shipping community," Patten said.

Representatives from Italian shipping associations Assormatori and Confitarma wrote an open letter to the Italian government March 12 warning that Italy's shipping industry is in danger and needed government support.

The Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk is restricting free pratique -- free passage into the port on an assurance from the captain the ship is free from contagious disease -- for vessels calling from China, Iran, Italy and South Korea, shipping sources said at the beginning of March.

The Novorossiisk port authority declined to comment.