The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) participated in the simulation of crew change hub operations at the Batangas Port on 11 December 2020.

The Department of Transportation - Philippines (DOTr) led the testing of operation protocols to ensure that health and safety procedures shall be duly observed.

The change crew hub houses a “One-Stop Shop” (OSS) where embarking and disembarking seafarers will undergo the mandatory RT-PCR testing and triaging procedures. Thereafter, they are set off to a government-accredited quarantine facility while waiting for the result of their swab test. The OSS is also a facility where all government services relative to crew changes are provided.

The Batangas hub shall commence its operations upon the issuance of a resolution of the Batangas Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19, authorizing the conduct of crew changes in the province.

Aside from the DOTr and the PCG, the simulation was made successful with the active participation of the Office of Transportation Security (OTS), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Other crew change hubs already activated are in Subic, Bataan, Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

As of 11 December 2020, the OSS in various ports across the country have served a total of 1,409 ships engaged in international trade, as well as 23,609 Filipino and foreign seafarers.