Asunto: COVID 19 – Implantación y cumplimiento de los instrumentos pertinentes de la OMI
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDRES SE1 7SR
Telephone +44 (0)20 7735 7611 | Facsimil: +44(0)20 587 3210
Subject: COVID-19 – Implementation and enforcement of relevant IMO instruments
The Secretary-General reports that he has received reports on the impact of the sudden and rapid outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus on the shipping sector. In response to this situation, the Secretary-General has published guidance in Circular No. 4204.
Flag State authorities, Port State authorities and control regimes, as well as companies and shipmasters, should cooperate, in the current context of the outbreak, to ensure that, where appropriate, passengers can embark and disembark, cargo operations can occur, ships can enter and leave shipyards for repairs and surveys, goods and supplies can be loaded, certificates can be issued and crews can be exchanged.
Protecting the health and safety of seafarers
In the context of the current coronavirus outbreak, the effective protection of the health and safety of seafarers should be a priority.
Under the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006:
- Flag States must ensure that all seafarers working on ships flying their flags are covered by adequate measures for the protection of their health and that they have prompt and adequate access to medical care while working on board.
- Port States are required to ensure that seafarers on board ships in their territory who are in need of immediate medical care are given access to medical facilities on shore.
Monitoring the situation
COVID-19 is a serious public health problem that must be understood by all Member States and on which they must cooperate closely to overcome the challenges related to the implementation and enforcement of the relevant IMO instruments.
The Organization will continue to monitor the situation closely, and the Secretary-General will provide additional information as appropriate and bring these matters to the attention of the relevant organs of the Organization, in particular, the Maritime Safety Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Facilitation Committee and the Legal Committee.
