Crew exchange is an important part of the work resumption process for shipping companies. A group of 11 Chinese crews of the COACO Shipping Star were successfully redeployed on March 9, with help from the Yangshan Immigration Inspection, the customs, the ship owner, shipping agent and the port.

Six procedures - ship management, customs quarantine, border inspection, information notification, shuttle transfer, isolation at designated points, were carried out by the Yangshan Immigration Inspection, effectively helping shipping enterprises to resume work while preventing the spread of the epidemic.

The Yangshan Immigration Inspection officers carefully check the crew's information. [Photo/WeChat account: shlgguanweihui]

Countries all over the world have been upgrading their port epidemic prevention measures in response to the global spread of the novel coronavirus. Strict restrictions were placed on crew members disembarking from the ship and crew rotation. Chinese shipping companies and crews faced the problem of working overtime.

Yangshan Immigration Inspection has become familiar with the restrictions imposed on Chinese crews in more than 130 ports around the world due to the epidemic and has been helping shipping companies choose the most suitable ports to ship to.

Because the COACO Shipping Star ship passed through some of the countries most severely affected by the epidemic, Chinese crew members who disembark the ship are required to remain in isolation for 14 days.

After receiving the application for crew rotation, the Yangshan Immigration Inspection set up a working group to study the plans of border inspection and crew rotation. They checked the ship's itinerary in advance, checked the health status of the crew, and the landing situation at the port of entry, and coordinated with relevant inspection units.

The Yangshan Immigration Inspection office coordinates with relevant inspection units before the ship is unloaded. [Photo/WeChat account: shlgguanweihui]

The port inspection unit established a green channel for quarantine inspection and entry inspection of the ship after a comprehensive risk assessment.

Five crews who have completed the 14-day isolation at the centralized isolation point of COSCO Shipping Shanghai branch went through the boarding procedure first, and completed the work handover with the departing crew on the ship.

The Yangshan customs then carried out quarantine procedures for the six crew members who will leave the ship. After landing, the crew were transported to the designated place by special transfer vehicle in the dock for 14 days of isolation and observation.