Circular No. 4204/Add.33 Joint IMO-UNWTO statement in support of the safe resumption of cruise ship operations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDRES SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44(0)20 7735 7611 | Facsimil: +44(0)20 7587 3210
Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Joint IMO-UNWTO statement in support of the safe resumption of cruise ship operations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have jointly issued a statement expressing their support for the safe resumption of cruise ship operations. Member States and competent authorities are urged to designate seafarers and maritime personnel as essential workers, removing obstacles to crew changes.
Cruise Sector Data (2019)
| Indicator | Figure/Impact |
|---|---|
| Anual passengers | Approximately 30 million. |
| Global economic contribution | $150 billion USD annually. |
| Jobs supported | 1,2 million. |
| Salaries paid | $50 billion USD. |
Member States are encouraged to bring this statement to the attention of health, maritime, immigration, and border control authorities.
ANNEX: JOINT STATEMENT
Date: November 5, 2020.
The IMO and UNWTO recognize the vital role of maritime transport, which carries more than 80% of global trade volume. Currently, nearly 400,000 seafarers are working under expired contracts, while another 400,000 are waiting ashore to relieve them.
Socioeconomic Impact and Recovery
The pandemic has caused an estimated reduction of 850 to 1.1 billion international tourist arrivals, with export revenue losses ranging between $910 billion and $1.2 trillion USD. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), tourism represents more than 30% of total exports, reaching as high as 80% in some cases.
The suspension of cruise operations through July 2020 resulted in a total economic loss of $50.24 billion, affecting more than 334,000 jobs.
Safety and Protocol Initiatives
The sector has implemented enhanced protocols, including the “Guidance on the gradual and safe resumption of operations of cruise ships in the European Union” (EMSA/ECDC) and the frameworks developed by the UK Chamber of Shipping in conjunction with CLIA.
Se exhorta a los Gobiernos a facilitar la recuperación del sector mediante estas orientaciones, protegiendo la salud de pasajeros, tripulación y población de los Estados rectores de puertos[cite: 86, 89].
Signatories
Zurab Pololikashvili
Secretary-General World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Kitack Lim
Secretary-General International Maritime Organization (IMO)
