Nine months into the pandemic, gaining recognition for the
role seafarers have played in maintaining commerce and gaining their
recognition as key works to help facilitate crew changes remains a key element
of the International Maritime Organization’s mission. The IMO, along with the
unions and other shipping organizations continue to estimate that thousands of
seafarers remain stuck aboard their ships or unable to work because of travel
restrictions that make it difficult to join the ships.
At a virtual Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting on
November 16, BIMCO reports that the IMO approved a circular recognizing the
industry-developed protocols, which set out general measures and procedures
designed to ensure that ship crew changes and travel can take place safely
during the pandemic.
The protocols yet again emphasize the need for governments
to designate seafarers as key workers providing an essential service. It
includes practical steps for joining and leaving ships, including the need for
compliance and strict adherence with COVID-19 testing and quarantine
requirements, as well as measures to prevent infection on board ships.
BIMCO reports that the MSC also agreed to create a new
special module in the IMO’s online information database, global integrated
shipping information system (GISIS), to register ports that facilitate crew
changes and disseminate information to enable shipping companies to easily plan
and organize crew change during the pandemic. The module also will contain
information about national focal points of contact which can be easily accessed
by the industry in general and shipping companies in particular.
The IMO has been seeking to call attention to these issues
since the spring hosting discussions and calling on member states to take
actions to accommodate crew changes. A range of nations supported the
initiatives and many geographies have been supportive of the efforts to
facilitate crew changes. Singapore, for example, was recently recognized for
its programs.
Other, less highlighted destinations have also been
successful in joining in the efforts. For example, the Subic Bay Freeport two
months ago launched a program to support crew changes. According to the Subic
Bay Metropolitan Authority, seven ships with more than 500 mostly Filipino crew
have taken advantage of the program since it was launched on September 10. Subic is one of four designated crew change
hubs with the Department of Transportation exploring adding at least two more
centers in the Philippines.
Despite these efforts, in October, the International
Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Chamber of Shipping
repeated their estimates that there are over 400,000 seafarers trapped at sea
working beyond their initial contracts.
Shipping lines have been forced to reroute ships and incur
increased expenses to complete crew changes.