When planning crew rotations crew managers must now consider the variety of health requirements imposed by border controls, airlines, airports and ports (medical tests, quarantine time, PPEs, additional time spent onshore etc), all whilst dealing with the uncertainty fostered by the fact that a global safety standard has not yet been agreed and adopted by offshore bodies.
Cost remains a priority for crew managers. With crew travel coming in as the second biggest cost next to crew salary for marine and energy organisations, crew managers play an important role in balancing and managing budgets. With the economic demands of the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to take their toll on many organisations, those responsible for the travel of offshore personnel are under more pressure to deliver cost savings.
Intrinsically linked with the cost of crew travel is the efficiency of a crew rotation and any time savings that can be made. There can be huge costs involved in crew
being late to a vessel or rig. The travel itineraries of crew can change in minutes, particularly with new travel guidance and restrictions being enforced around the world, and so crew managers are now keen to find ways to minimise the impact that this has on timings and deadlines. Repeated delays and setbacks can waste a lot of time, resources and ultimately money.
