NTF ALLOWS ENTRY OF FOREIGN SEAFARERS FOR CREW CHANGE

NTF ALLOWS ENTRY OF FOREIGN SEAFARERS FOR CREW CHANGE THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE AGAINST COVID-19 (NTF)

The National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) has amended its earlier advisory by exempting foreign seafarers, who are holders of 9 (c) crew list visa, from the month-long temporary travel ban. In yesterday’s meeting of the Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Task Force members agreed to consider the appeals of licensed manning agencies (LMAs) to allow entry of foreign seafarers scheduled to arrive in the country to do crew changes. Hence, the NTF issued right away another advisory, amending its earlier one by allowing entry of “foreign seafarers under the government’s ‘Green Lanes’ program for crew change provided they hold a 9(c) crew list visa at the time of their entry.” The new NTF advisory, issued on March 18, 2021 was also signed by its NTF Chairman Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.  It will take effect on  March 22 until Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Last March 16, the NTF issued an advisory imposing a limit on international inbound arrivals to a maximum of 1,500 only.  Among others, it specified that only foreign nationals who are holders of resident visa or the 9(e) visa would be allowed entry. The LMA’s, however, quickly expressed concerns since this would have serious effect on the country’s crewing community.  After learning of the earlier advisory, shipowners immediately cancelled the scheduled port calls of their ships to conduct crew changes in the country.  The new advisory, allowing entry of foreign seafarers for purposes of crew change, hopes to avert these cancellations to help Filipino seafarers join their ships and relieve those onboard.