Crew Changes Return to Vizhinjam: How the Anchorage Service Works
By PortConnect
Ships passing the Kerala coast can once again change crew at Vizhinjam. Two crew changes were completed at the outer anchorage in late October and early November 2026, the first since the service stopped after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two operations so far
MV Nexor, last week of October. Three seafarers signed on and three signed off while the vessel waited at the outer anchorage. Nine other crew members came ashore on 24-hour shore leave. The ship also took spare parts, provisions and lubricating oil.
Atlantis I, first week of November. The crude oil tanker was sailing from Singapore to Khor Fakkan in the UAE when it reported an engine failure off the coast. Spare parts went out by boat and the crew repaired the engine at anchor. Two Indian seafarers signed on and two signed off. Kerala Maritime Board officials at the port directed the assistance.
According to the reports, both operations were coordinated by Waterline Shipping, a firm that works on crew changes and emergency support for ships.
How a crew change at the anchorage works
- The ship does not come alongside a berth. It stays at the outer anchorage, inside port limits.
- Permission is needed from the port and from immigration before anyone moves.
- Joining crew go out from the harbour by boat, and leaving crew come back the same way. On the Nexor, crew used the ladder alongside the ship. On the Atlantis I, they were lifted aboard in a basket by crane.
- The same boat runs can carry spare parts, provisions and stores.
What changed is the rulebook. The Directorate General of Shipping issued a standard operating procedure that allows crew to sign on and sign off at an outer anchorage within port limits, provided the port and immigration authorities approve. The service runs from the Kerala Maritime Board's Vizhinjam port, the older harbour next to the international seaport.
Why Vizhinjam suits it
The port lies about 10 nautical miles from the main east-west shipping route, so a ship can relieve its crew with a short diversion and without berthing. Thiruvananthapuram's international airport is a short drive away, which keeps travel simple for crew joining and leaving.
The location has done this before. During the pandemic, about 12,500 seafarers were relieved here from nearly 1,000 ships over two years, under special arrangements that ended afterwards.
What it means for businesses around the port
Each crew change brings a chain of small jobs: agency work and clearances, boat hire, airport transfers, hotel stays, and deliveries of provisions and spares. The reports describe the new approvals as likely to revive Vizhinjam's role as a crew-change point. No figures for expected volumes have been published, so treat it as an opening, not a forecast.
- Ship owners and managers can find ship agents and chandlers who handle crew change and stores.
- For repairs and technical help at anchor, see marine services and technical services.
- For spares and equipment, see equipment and supplies.
If your firm provides launch boats, crew transport, accommodation or travel support, add your listing for free so agents can find you when the next ship calls.
Sources
Facts in this article come from published reports; the wording and the guidance are PortConnect's own. Checked on 12 November 2026.
