Circular No. 4204/Add.30 Joint statement calling on all Governments to immediately recognize seafarers as key workers and to take swift and effective action to remove barriers to crew changes, in order to address the humanitarian crisis facing the shipping sector, ensure maritime safety and facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDRES SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 | Facsimile: +44(0)20 7587 3210
Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Joint statement on the designation of seafarers as key workers and measures for crew changes.
Various international organizations, including the ILO, UNCTAD, IOM, FAO, OHCHR, ICAO, the United Nations Global Compact, and the IMO, have issued a joint statement to urge all Member States to urgently resolve the crew change crisis.
Member States are urged to take action without delay and to inform the relevant maritime, health, immigration, and border control authorities of the contents of this circular.
Context of the Humanitarian Crisis
The maritime transport sector moves more than 80% of world trade. Due to the pandemic, there are severe difficulties in conducting crew changes due to travel restrictions, quarantines, and limitations on flights and visas.
It is estimated that approximately 300,000 seafarers are working on board with extended contracts, sometimes exceeding 17 months, which causes fatigue and mental health issues. A similar number of seafarers are unemployed ashore, unable to embark.
Urgent measures required of Member States
Governments are requested to adopt the following concrete measures:
- Designating seafarers as “key workers” to facilitate safe sign-ons and sign-offs.
- Conducting national consultations with all relevant ministries to identify obstacles and implementing time-bound plans to increase the pace of crew changes.
- Consulting with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations when developing measures that impact crew changes.
- Implementing protocols for crew changes based on the latest version of the “Recommended framework of protocols” (Circular 4204/Add.14).
- Refraining from authorizing extensions of seafarers’ employment agreements beyond the maximum period of 11 months, in accordance with the MLC, 2006.
- Facilitating the diversion of ships to ports that allow for crew changes.
- Accepting internationally recognized documentation (such as STCW certificates or seafarers’ identity documents) as evidence of their status as key workers.
- Providing immediate access to medical facilities and facilitating urgent medical evacuations.
- Allowing the disembarkation and transit of seafarers for the purpose of repatriation or joining a ship.
- Increase access to commercial flights and authorize chartered flights for crew changes when regular flights are not available.
