Vizhinjam Port has resumed crew-change operations for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, with three seafarers signing on and three signing off from the vessel MV Nexor at the port’s outer anchorage on Saturday.
The Indian crew members were transported between the vessel and shore by boat. In addition, nine crew members who had been granted 24-hour shore leave were brought ashore, where they met their families, who had travelled from different cities, and visited various places in Thiruvananthapuram before returning to the vessel.
The operation was facilitated by a recent standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, permitting crew sign-on and sign-off at outer anchorages within port limits, subject to approval from port and immigration authorities.
The development is expected to help Vizhinjam revive its position as a crew-change hub and expand its range of maritime services for vessels operating along the Kerala coast.
Waterline Shipping, which specialises in coordinating and executing crew-change operations, handled the transfer of personnel. The operation involved transporting joining crew members to the vessel by boat and assisting them as they climbed the ship’s ladder, with the reverse process followed for those signing off.
The company also supplied spare parts, provisions and drums of essential lubricating oil to MV Nexor, which had been waiting at sea for an extended period for further sailing instructions. Recently, a crew member from the vessel was also brought ashore following a medical emergency.
Located close to Vizhinjam International Port, the anchorage had emerged as a significant crew-change centre during the Covid-19 pandemic. Special arrangements then enabled seafarers to be replaced without vessels having to enter a port or berth.
During the two-year pandemic period, approximately 12,500 crew members were replaced across nearly 1,000 vessels at Vizhinjam. However, these operations ceased after the pandemic ended.
The resumption of crew changes under the new SOP could provide fresh momentum to Vizhinjam’s role in supporting international shipping, offering ship operators a convenient option for crew transfers, essential supplies and other maritime support services without requiring vessels to berth.