The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is warning of global trade disruption unless urgent action is taken for the thousands of seafarers left stranded due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
In response, it has released a 12-step plan for the safe movement of seafarers during the pandemic.
The guidelines have been released to 174 member states with thousands of crews currently trapped onboard ships across the globe.
In two weeks’ time, around 150,000 merchant seafarers will need to be changed over to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations.
The 55-page roadmap is supported by coalition of seafarer unions and international shipping industry associations with input from airline industry representatives, international organisations, and the insurance sector, to provide a comprehensive blueprint of how governments can facilitate crew changeovers and resolve safety concerns throughout the process.
The protocols set out the responsibility of governments, shipowners, transport providers and seafarers. It also provides a framework to develop procedures that can be adopted worldwide to ensure trade can keep flowing and seafarers can be relieved.
On May 1, as part of International Workers’ Day, ships around the world sounded their horns for the #HeroesAtSeaShoutout initiative, aimed at reminding governments of the plight and sacrifice of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers who are keeping the world supplied during COVID-19.
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) secretary general Guy Platten says the heroes at sea shoutout is reminding everyone that seafarers are doing their bit to keep trade flowing.
“We stand ready to support our seafarers and we are working with political leaders so that they can steer a steady course and allow safe crew changes to take place.
“The problem is simplistic, but the solution is complex. So, we have stepped up and done the homework and developed the protocols. We are now working with governments to implement this roadmap.
“Seafarers continue to work really hard, day-in, day-out and far away from loved ones, but if we are not able to free our seafarers from their COVID-19 lockdown we could start to see disruption to trade and more importantly we increase the risk of accident and occurrences of mental health issues. Putting this off is no longer an option,” Platten says.
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) general secretary Stephen Cotton says unions along with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are banding together for the welfare of stranded seafarers.
“This is about governments recognising the critical role that seafarers play in global supply chains, recognising them as key workers, and providing immediate and consistent exceptions from COVID-19 restrictions to allow crew changeovers.
“International seafarers are bearing the burden first-hand as governments turn a blind eye to the ‘forgotten sector’ … governments cannot continue with a mentality of out of sight, out of mind, and we strongly urge governments to use this roadmap to act now before we suffer more serious consequences,” Cotton says.
