Page 13 - INTERCARGO - Annual Review 2019/2020

Crew change tops the industry’s agenda

under COVID-19

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was marked by the crew change crisis, which
saw more than 300,000 seafarers trapped on board ships and a similar

number experiencing financial hardship as they awaited re-employment.
This situation was exacerbated in the dry bulk sector by the fact that bulk
carriers on tramp trading call at many more ports than do other sectors of

the industry, piling added strain on an already fatigued workforce.

Even today, worldwide progress must be made on this • All seafarers should be allowed to travel with visa
issue, with many crews still remaining on board for 12- exemptions when joining ships.
17 months. The safety of crew, ships and cargoes con- • Port States must allow seafarers to sign off without
tinues to be compromised - the industry cannot begin confirmed flight tickets and wait for an unspecified
to contemplate the consequences should terminal and period in an isolation hotel while awaiting flights.
cargo operations be halted and cargo vessels stopped
from trading due to safety concerns.
INTERCARGO fully supported the outcome of the Inter-
Bulk carriers provide employment to more than 350,000 sea- national Maritime Summit on Crew Change in July 2020,
farers annually, often providing a significant income to house- where thirteen countries signed agreements to facilitate
holds in areas with high rates of unemployment. Seafarers crew changes.
are the true heart of global shipping, and as demonstrated
INTERCARGO encourages all governments that are signa-
during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are key workers, playing
tories to the IMO SOLAS convention to join and implement
a vital role in ensuring the flow of essential goods.
the above agreement, especially those countries which ben-
During 2020 routine crew changes were hit with two key bot- efit most from the import and export of dry bulk cargoes.
tlenecks: the airlines’ unwillingness to make flights available
In 2020 the Association, in close cooperation with its in-
between shipping destinations and crew source countries;
dustry partners, engaged in a number of initiatives in re-
and the lack of commitment from Health & Immigration Au-
sponse to the COVID-19 impact on seafarers and our
thorities to facilitate seafarers’ travelling and issuance of visas.
sector, such as the Development of the cross-industry
INTERCARGO believes that the focus of attention should be Recommended Framework of Protocols for Ensuring Safe
on the following measures: Ship Crew Changes and Travel during the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) Pandemic.
• The cross-industry Recommended Framework of
Protocols for Ensuring Safe Ship Crew Changes and In addition, INTERCARGO has engaged with the maritime
Travel during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic sector through video, and media interviews and press re-
• An emphasis on accurate testing procedures, leases. These include:
especially for on-signing crew. Recent cases of
• Press release: Crew change: Drastic measures needed
COVID-19 positive crew being allowed to travel from
now (July 27)
their home countries have put both seafarers and
• Press release: Day of the Seafarer: Slow Response
civilians at risk. INTERCARGO calls for increased
from Governments Pushing Seafarers to their Limits
diligence by crewing agents to ensure this situation
(June 24)
does not happen again.
• Video message: Crew Change – time is running out
• Seafarers should be tested prior to departure from
(June 12)
their home country and tested again at arrival in port
• Press release: Crew Change for ‘Key Workers’ at Sea
prior to going on board ship. Similarly, seafarers
Must be Top of the Industry’s Agenda (April 28)
disembarking from ships should be tested prior to
• Press release: Coronavirus poses major challenges
coming ashore or flying out. If tests are negative, they
for seafarers on merchant ships from increasing
should be exonerated from quarantine.
restrictions imposed by port states” (March 17)
•
For more information on this topic please visit:
intercargo.org/operational-considerations-for-managing-covid-19-cases-on-board-ships
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