UNCTAD joins hands with IMO urging collaborative action to designate seafarers as key workers to keep trade flowing
Overview
UNCTAD and IMO issue joint-statement calling for action by government states to facilitate crew changes.
To reinforce the call that seafarers play a vital role in ensuring the continuity of sustaining global trade during this critical COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Maritime Organization ( IMO) issued a joint statement urging government states to recognise them as key workers and support ship crew changeovers. This will enable shipping to continue to operate safely; allowing for ships to keep moving, ports open and cross-border trade to flow carrying essential goods needed and not be hampered by the pandemic and the associated containment measures. It is more crucial than ever that these activities remain viable during these extraordinary times so that some form of normality can be sustained taking into account the various COVID-19 measures undertaken by governments.
BIMCO applauds the call by UNCTAD and IMO and hopes that to keep trade flowing with transport of essential goods, governments will facilitate crew changes or continue to do so proactively as crew changes cannot be postponed indefinitely.
BIMCO COVID-19 related links:
- Implementation page for detailed information on individual countries
- Crew change challenges for overview on restrictions to crew change
- Extensions to seafarers’ certificates for details on regulations regarding employment agreements, certificates of competency, etc.
For all COVID-19 pages, visit bimco.org/covid19
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Posted:
12 June 2020
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