Ships could be prevented from departing Australian ports if crew have spent too long at sea. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) released the "Marine notice: Maximum period of shipboard service for seafarers during COVID-19" on 26 June 2020. It has since been widely distributed by Shipping Australia, representing international shipping lines in the trade. AMSA sets out Australian port state control protocol on how long seafarers can serve on board a vessel without leave, under the Maritime Labour Convention, during the pandemic. AMSA said that the maximum period a seafarer can work on a vessel without leave is 14 months. While recognising the challenges of countries restricting their borders during the pandemic, the regulations were developed over fears for crew wellbeing and ship safety. "Historically, a lack of fatigue management has contributed to a number of serious maritime accidents in Australia and abroad," an AMSA spokesperson told SAS. "Fatigue was and still is contributing to short- and long-term performance and health impairment. It's a risk to seafarers and safety at sea."
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