The first crew change operations outside Metro Manila was conducted Saturday, September 5, at the Port of Capinpin in Orion, Bataan after being activated as crew change hub to address the global need for a fresh crew amid the pandemic.

The maritime sector of the Department of Transportation said the first crew change took place after all operational requirements for the location were finalized and approved.

These include the establishment of a One-Stop Shop (OSS), RT-PCR testing booths, quarantine facilities, anchorage, application and Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) procedures, and tugboats.

According to Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator and OSS Head, Undersecretary Raul Del Rosario, it took more than a month to establish the OSS in Port Capinpin.

“To be exact, one month and one week bago natin na-put up ang OSS dito sa Orion. Kinailangan kasi nating i-match ang mga protocols na ipapatupad natin sa one-stop shop doon sa mga protocols ng Bataan Provincial IATF (It took one month and a week to put up the OSS here in Orion because we have to match the protocols implemented in the one-stop shop with the protocols of Bataan Provincial interagency task force),” Del Rosario said.

Concerned agencies on the crew change protocol that are part of the One Stop Shop are Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard, OTS, Maritime Industry Authority, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Bureau of Immigration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration OWWA, Philippine National Police and local government units, who are monitoring to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Port Capinpin, a port being operated and managed by the PPA, was activated as a crew change hub on August 19.

Crew change hubs in Luzon were recently activated to help address the global need for fresh crew of ships, and to ensure the health, safety, welfare and employment of seafarers as they can only serve on board a vessel without leave up to 11 months based on International Labour Organization (ILO) 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

This will primarily benefit seafarers, who are stranded onboard ships with expired contracts due to imposed travel restrictions due to COVID-19.

Strict protocols and procedures were set by the OSS to ensure the smooth implementation of crew change operations. Prior to embarkation, seafarers are required to undergo RT-PCR testing 72 hours before boarding.

After getting a negative result, they will be subjected to physical examination by the BOQ, as well as Customs and Immigration procedures. Upon obtaining clearance, they will be sent to the vessel where they will receive handover of duties from off signees.

Off signing seafarers, on the other hand, are required to undergo CIQ procedures onboard the vessel. Once fully cleared by authorities, they will be sent to the port for disembarkation, debriefing, RT-PCR testing and quarantine.