This BIMCO COVID 19 weekly report for the week ending 19 August 2022 covers the International Maritime Organization (IMO) including crew change national contact point, Fiji, Poland, Ukraine, and the latest from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Every week, BIMCO summarises measures imposed by governments for sea transport, including for crew change, as well as updates from United Nations bodies such as the IMO, WHO, ILO and the Port State Control MoU regimes.
1. IMO
The below represent the latest information from the IMO.
The Fijian Maritime Safety Authority in a Marine Notice 06/2022 via an IMO circular letter no. 4385/Add.2, has granted a general extension on the validity of seafarer's STCW certificates including endorsements that have expired to 10 November 2022. This circular supersedes Marine Notice 03/2022.
Via anIMO circular letter no. 4232/Add.17, the Polish government has issued updated Guidelines on extending the validity of seafarers' maritime documents in the period of COVID-19 emergency state. In general, extensions granted earlier for a period of 90 days for seafarers' documents expiring on 1 March 2020 or later are revoked and seafarers are required to immediately revalidate their documents upon expiry or expiring soon, as soon as possible. However, extension of contracts is still applicable on a case-by-case basis, in particular if "the situation resulting from the epidemic does not allow repatriation".
The launch of Black Sea Grain Initiative on 22 July 2022 with the newly established Joint Coordination Centre ( JCC) under the auspices of the United Nations resulted in a set of mandatory procedures for merchant vessels on 6 August 2022 as a condition for port entry/departure to or from Ukrainian ports. Note that this is only an export arrangement for the safe export of foodstuffs and fertilizers including Ammona from Ukrainian ports. Vessels are prohibited from importing cargo into Ukrainian ports under this initiative. For full details, please refer to the IMO circular letter no. 4611 dated 9 August 2022. Please see also BIMCO news pieces " Procedures for safe export of foodstuff etc from Ukrainian ports" and " Grain agreement could see 65% of Ukraine 's seaborne capacity open".
From the North P&I Club, update as at 9 August below:
"Maritime security consultants Risk Intelligence advise:
The WHO issued a statement on 12 July in respect of the 12th meeting held by the International Health Regulations ( 2005) ( IHR) Emergency Committee on 8 July 2022 regarding COVID-19 pandemic WHO. The said meeting confirmed, amongst others, that COVID-19 continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern and urged all governments to continue to apply public health and social measures proportionate to their epidemiological situation, stressing the continued use of effective, individual-level protective measures to reduce transmission. The set of temporary recommendations issued by WHO was reviewed by the IHR Emergency Committee which can be viewed at the end of the WHO Statement.
Please see BIMCO-WHO for more information.
According to GISIS today, the list of countries (57) informing the IMO of their national focal point of contact for crew change and repatriation of seafarers are: Algeria (new), Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands) , the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica , Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Libya , the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco , Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore , Sint Maarten ( Kingdom of the Netherlands) , Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand , Tunisia, Ministry of Transport ( new), Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
Due to the situation in Ukraine, collective guidance harmonising the Port State Control activities ( PSC) has now been issued by the Indian Ocean, Paris, and Tokyo MoU on PSC and Vina del Mar Agreement relating to the repatriation of seafarers. Full information can be found in an IMO circular letter no. 4524/Add.2 dated 31 March 2022.
See also BIMCO Port State Control Regimes- MOU
The International Labour Organization (ILO) issued the following on maritime labour issues and COVID-19:
BIMCO is continuously monitoring COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the shipping industry in particular on crew changes. Below are some of the type of information currently being provided by BIMCO :
You can also view all information on our COVID-19 landing page.
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
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