Georgia is ready to follow all necessary measures and play a transit country role in the process of rotation and repatriation of sailors.
Georgian Economic Minister Natia Turnava says that Georgia has followed IMO and WHO guidelines and developed regulations that simplify the process of sailors' movement across the country.
Georgia also developed the rules on acceptance/seeing off sailors, as well as their accommodation in a quarantine area.
She says Georgia has an excellent geographic location.
''Taking the global pandemic into account, as Georgia has a low epidemic level which is strictly controlled, we show readiness to become a transit country for sailors,'' Turnava says, adding that the Georgian government hopes the initiative will be interesting for international ship owners.
There are about 1.2 mln sailors across the world. They serve on 65,000 vessels. No crews have been replaced for two months, while there is a need for the rotation of 300,000 sailors.
Georgia's Maritime Transport Agency will organize the process.
Bela Gelashvili
News Author