IMO NEWS
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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Summer 2021
A renewed push for crew changes and seafarers’ rights
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eafarers have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world came to a halt, they continued to transport essential goods, food and medicine across the globe. But hundreds of thousands of seafarers have become effectively trapped on their ships, as travel restrictions meant they were unable to return home, and relief crews were unable to join ships. In the past year, significant progress has been accomplished to alleviate this humanitarian crisis, but new waves of infection in various parts of the world, the emergence of variants and the challenges surrounding vaccination mean the issue is far from over. IMO’s Frederick Kenney, Chair of the Seafarer Crisis Action team, provides an update.
1. A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the situation regarding crew changes?
We are seeing some improvements, but this is still very much a crisis that is impacting hundreds of thousands of seafarers on all continents. According to analysis from the industry, the number of seafarers stranded on ships and requiring repatriation has gone down, from a peak of around 400,000 in September 2020, to about 200,000 in May 2021. And we must not forget the equivalent number of seafarers who are stranded at home without pay, unable to join ships to relieve these exhausted crews and earn a living. Even though this reduction in the number of stranded seafarers is good news, the situation remains fragile and the number
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of stranded seafarers could rise again if no further action is taken by governments. With new waves of the virus in some countries and the rise of variants in different parts of the world, new restrictions are being imposed, and this is significantly impacting the capacity to conduct crew changes. This is why the key worker designation for seafarers is so important, to enable seafarers to travel freely between their home countries and the ships that are their workplaces. So far, around 60 Member States and Associate Members have responded to our call, and we urge more countries to follow suit because that designation remains vital to resolve the crew change crisis.
2. Is the vaccination rollout making a difference?
Vaccination of seafarers is a very important issue that will be fundamental to resolve the crew change crisis. The very nature of international shipping makes it necessary for significant numbers of
seafarers to travel across borders. They often have to travel by plane to and from ships, as their ports of departure or arrival may be thousands of kilometres away from their home countries. And even though this is contrary to WHO guidance, they may be required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination to be allowed entry in some countries. Vaccination will enable them to travel safely and continue to play their critical role for the global supply chain. We must keep in mind that over 80% of the world’s trade is transported by sea. That is the food, energy, essential goods and medicines, including vaccines, which are essential for all of us. This is why IMO, alongside other UN organisations, is calling on governments to prioritise seafarers in their national COVID-19 vaccination programmes, together with other essential workers. Vaccinating seafarers will present logistical challenges, not least because they generally spend months at sea away from their home countries, and this is why international cooperation will be essential on this issue.
3. Why are so many seafarers still stranded at sea?
Different countries are at different stages of the pandemic: while some are emerging from lockdowns and have vaccinated a significant proportion of their population, others are facing new waves of infection and tightening travel restrictions. Seafarers often have to transit through several countries, facing numerous COVID and quarantine requirements along the way. The current context makes it complex and logistically challenging to organise
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