New variant sparks flashback to global crew-change chaos

Fears are stalking the industry that seafarers will once again fall victim to the travel restrictions that have now been reinstated by more than 50 countries since the Omicron strain was identified, writes Cichen Shen of Lloyd’s List

Stricter border controls led by a new and potentially more transmissible coronavirus variant have raised concerns about further headwinds facing crew changeover. There are fears in the industry that seafarers will once again fall victim to the travel restrictions that have now been reinstated by more than 50 countries since the Omicron variant was identified in South Africa.