Coinciding with the start of the 2021 World Economic Forum,
more than 300 companies from a broad range of industries across the globe are
coming together to add their voice to the other organizations seeking to call
attention to the humanitarian issues and challenges seafarers are facing caused
by the restrictions implemented to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Saying that
the current issues are not an acceptable way to treat seafarers, the global
companies and organizations are committing to take action to resolve the crew
change crisis while calling on peers and other stakeholders, in particular
relevant government bodies, to join the efforts.
“We, the signatories to The Neptune Declaration on Seafarer
Wellbeing and Crew Change, recognize that we have a shared responsibility to
ensure that the current crew change crisis is resolved as soon as possible and
to use the learnings from the crisis as an opportunity to build a more
resilient maritime supply chain,” says the declaration. The companies in the
effort include A.P. Møller - Mærsk, BP, BW, Cargill, COSCO, DOW, Euronav, MISC
Group, NYK, Rio Tinto, Shell, Trafigura, Unilever, and Vale.
The companies recognize the significant efforts by
international organizations, unions, companies, and governments to resolve the
crew change crisis, but they write that are concerned that the situation will
get worse as governments bring in more travel bans in response to the new
strains of the Covid-19 virus. They highlight national authorities around the
world that continue to see crew changes and international travel as a Covid-19
risk along with the failure to consistently implement the health protocols by ship
operators and governments. The disruption of international air travel has also
reduced the number of flights between traditional crew change hubs and major
seafaring nations.
“We believe that the most effective way of addressing the
crew change challenge and building a more resilient maritime logistics chain,
is by working together across the value chain with industry stakeholders,
organizations, and with governments to implement solutions that work in
practice,” the declaration says.
Many of the actions that they outline continue the themes
that have been expressed repeatedly by the unions, global organizations, the
IMO, and the UN. The four main actions outlined in the declaration to
facilitate crew changes and keep global supply chains functioning include
recognizing seafarers as key workers. They are also calling for seafarers to be
given priority to COVID-19 vaccines.
They expanded on some of the previous calls saying that
based on existing best practices, the standard health protocols should be established.
This would provide a universal framework to guide safe crew changes. In
addition, they are also calling on the aviation industry to work with the
maritime sector to ensure that airlift capacity is maintained between major
crew change hubs and seafaring nations.
Finally, they are calling for increased collaboration
between ship operators and charterers. The declaration states that ship owners
and charterers should share relevant information and collaborate to ensure that
necessary crew changes can be carried out. The owner should provide the
charterer with as much notice as possible on intended crew changes, while the
charterer should make all reasonable efforts to accommodate crew changes
including when the vessel has to make a reasonable deviation.
“Keeping people safe while keeping food, material for the
manufacture and administering of vaccines, and other essential goods moving
efficiently is key for global supply chain continuity, trade, and our everyday
lives,” said Margi Van Gogh, Head of Supply Chain and Transport, Shaping the
Future of Mobility, World Economic Forum speaking as a signer of the
declaration. “Unified, prompt action from governments and other key
stakeholders is needed to protect the lives and livelihoods of the 1.4 million seafaring
men and women who serve us all across the seas, and who continue to face
extreme risk to their safety and earnings.”
The Neptune Declaration has been developed by a task force
of stakeholders from across the maritime value chain including A. M. Nomikos,
Cargill, Dorian LPG, GasLog, Global Maritime Forum, International Chamber of
Shipping, International Maritime Employers’ Council, International Transport
Workers’ Federation, ONE, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Sustainable Shipping
Initiative, Synergy Group, V. Group, and World Economic Forum.