Four international organizations under the auspices of the United Nations have urged all stakeholders for continued collaboration to address the crew change crisis among the 1.9 million seafarers, safeguard their health and safety, and avoid supply chain disruption during the pandemic.
In a statement, the International Labor Organization (ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and World Health Organization (WHO), issued this call to ensure continued safe operation of shipping, and to keep ships moving, ports open and cross-border trade flowing during the pandemic.
The Philippines is among the world’s largest provider of seafarers. According to Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) figures published by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of the Philippines the total number of seafarers deployed overseas from the country dropped 54 percent in 2020 to 217,223, compared 469,996 in 2019.
“We call on Governments, national and local authorities, and all relevant stakeholders, including employers, to take the following critical actions,” according to the joint statement.
The four organizations stressed that continuous spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the Omicron variant, is a stark reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. The epidemiological situation continues to evolve, posing renewed challenges to societies and economies, including to international shipping, which is critical for global trade and sustainable development. As a result, the already fragile global supply chain is facing increased congestions and delays.
While the impacts of the Omicron variant and related policy responses depend on a range of factors and vary considerably, common and proactive approaches are needed to address evolving challenges to international shipping and its key workers, and to minimize adverse impacts on seafarers and their families, as well as on global trade, supply chains and sustainable development, while continuing to protect local communities.
Throughout the pandemic, the statement said, the world’s 1.9 million seafarers, many of whom are from developing countries, have played a vital role in ensuring the continuous flow of critical goods along supply chains, hence keeping the world’s shipping and trade moving.
However, as a result of some of the international traffic-related measures that have been put in place to mitigate the health and health systems impacts of the spread of the virus, many seafarers are still unable to leave ships, remaining stranded at sea far beyond the expiration dates of their contracts and the default 11-month maximum period of continuous service on board, as required by the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006).
For the same reasons, some seafarers have been unable to join ships to replace stranded crews, leading to a significant loss of income and resulting in hardship for seafarers and their families. This humanitarian crew change crisis has resulted in significant mental strain, fatigue and consequently increased the risk of accidents, imperilling working conditions in the shipping sector.
While the number of seafarers that remain stranded has decreased, it remains considerable and further efforts must be made to rectify the situation and alleviate the continuing crisis. Moreover, the full impact of the Omicron variant and related response measures on crew changes is not yet clear and further VOCs may yet emerge.
Governments, national and local authorities, and all relevant stakeholders, including employers, are asked to take some critical actions.
These include providing seafarers with immediate access to medical care as well as facilitate their medical evacuation when the required medical care cannot be provided on board. Designate seafarers as “key workers”, providing an essential service, to facilitate maritime crew changes and safe movement across borders, and recognize relevant documentation for this purpose.
Governments are also urged to prioritize the vaccination of seafarers, as far as practicable, in national COVID-19 vaccination programs and exempt them from any national policy requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as the only mandatory condition for entry, in accordance with WHO recommendations.
Other measures include providing seafarers appropriate personal protective equipment, facilitate identification of cases on board or at the port, consistent application of internationally agreed protocols and standards, adoption of latest legal instructions, and WHO sector-specific guidance for the management of COVID-19 onboard cargo ships and fishing vessels, among others.