The UN Secretary-General has again appealed for governments to act on behalf of hundreds of thousands of seafarers and other maritime workers stuck at sea for endless months, in some cases more than a year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
António Guterres pressed authorities to formally designate these personnel as “key workers” to facilitate safe crew changes, allowing fatigued seafarers to be repatriated and replaced by colleagues who are awaiting deployment.
“Despite the unprecedented conditions brought about by the pandemic, seafarers have continued to tirelessly support the often invisible global logistics chain”, the UN chief said, in his message for World Maritime Day, observed annually on 24 September.
This year, the focus is on ‘Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet’ which underlines how the industry will play a central role in both post-pandemic recovery and future economic growth.
As Mr. Guterres pointed out, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the professionalism and sacrifice of the more than one million men and women who serve in the world’s merchant fleet.
Seafarers play a critical role in shipping, which accounts for the movement of more than 80 percent of global trade including food, basic goods, and vital medical supplies needed during the pandemic.
The UN and partners estimate that more than 300,000 members of this hidden workforce currently are trapped at sea due to travel restrictions, border closures, and other measures implemented by governments to contain COVID-19 spread.
They said the situation is unfolding into an urgent humanitarian, safety, and economic crisis.
For some seafarers, the show appears to have no end. The Secretary-General noted that some tours of duty have now stretched more than 17 months: far beyond international standards.
Besides renewing his appeal for Governments to declare seafarers as essential workers, Mr. Guterres urged authorities to implement protocols developed by UN agencies, alongside the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, that would facilitate crew rotations.
The protocols also call for no new work extensions beyond 11 months, diverting vessels to ports where crew changes can take place and recognition of internationally-designated seafarers’ documents.
Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and a former seafarer himself stressed that it is high time for action.
“We all depend on seafarers,” he said. “They should not be the collateral victims of the pandemic.”
The head of the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned that failure to resolve the crisis would not only be “catastrophic” for seafarers and compromise maritime safety, it could potentially lead to a breakdown of global supply chains.
Original source: UN News
