KOCHI:
Cruise vessel MV Veendam arrived at Cochin Port today for the repatriation of 138 Indian seafarers. On arrival at BTP berth, thermal scanning of the disembarking crew was carried out followed by swab collection for Covid-19 test.
After disembarkation procedures of Customs, PHO, Immigration etc, the crew were shifted to paid quarantine. Cochin is emerging as a preferred port of call for crew change due to its proximity to the international sea routes. Cochin Port Trust along with the Customs, Immigration, port and district health authorities are doing utmost to help stranded Indian seafarers and to be relieved from their ships and to proceed to their homes.
Apart from crew changes and bunkering, Cochin Port is looking to develop other services at the anchorage in order to attract more ships to Cochin and also help in generating employment opportunities in the region. So far, Cochin Port facilitated crew change (sign on & sign off) of 1694 seafarers. Out of this, 1380 was done at outer anchorage of Cochin Port, which is the highest outer anchorage crew change facilitated among Indian ports, since covid-19 lockdown.
