During the ship's journey, MSC repeatedly demanded that the seafarers on board be relieved to return home to their families. The chartering parties that decide the ship's movements have not yet adopted these proposals.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, China has barred crew change at Chinese ports and MSC's requests for crew change at anchorage in mid-December or in Japan a few days sailing away have not been made.

As the technical operator of the ship,MSC is very concerned for the well-being of these sailors and is in constant contact with them, and with their families ashore, as well as providing a clinical psychologist for remote support.

For several months, several of the crew were at sea earlier than usual expected. The business is currently trying to resolve this through diplomatic channels, after local authorities recently blocked MSC's attempt to send a doctor to visit the ship in person.

MSC first tried to change ANASTASIA's crew in Hong Kong in June 2020. Because of local authorities' COVID limitations, a subsequent attempt in early August to change crew in Hong Kong was prohibited.

Later in August, the Japanese authorities allowed the vessel to be moored at Mitusure Island in Japan, but the order was not enforced. Further attempts to permit a change of crew in Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore and Busan were also denied during the time from August to December.

Maritime Business World