The replacement of crews on vessels of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) operated outside the Caspian Sea (in the Black and Mediterranean Seas) was successfully completed. On July 15-16, 2020, the crews of 6 ships, consisting of 69 persons, were replaced. 33 of crew members were replaced in the port of Samsun, and 36 – in Istanbul ports of Bogaz and Tekirdag.
The crews change was carried out in accordance with a special permit of the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers. During the replacement, the necessary measures were taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection spread to a minimum. All crew members, both returning from the shift and those sent to the shift, were tested for coronavirus in accordance with the current rules.
Special charter flight (Baku-Istanbul-Baku) of the Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC transported our seafarers in both direction.
Along with 70 crew members of ASCO vessels sailing in external waters, two Azerbaijani sailors, who work in a foreign company and recently arrived in Istanbul from Mauritania with the help of ASCO, returned to Baku.
In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), international air traffic was suspended due to border closures as a result of the pandemic announced in most countries of the world, and for this reason the replacement of crews of ASCO vessels floating in external waters was postponed.
Sources:https://asco.az/en/crew-replaced-on-asco-vessels-operated-outside-the-caspian-sea/
