1. ILO

The International Labour Organization  (ILO) issued the following on maritime labour issues and COVID-19:

• Information note (revised version 3.0 dated  3 February 2022), addressing the current COVID-19 situation and how the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 as amended (MLC, 2006) pertaining to seafarers' rights ought to be implemented including inter-alia, the application of force majeure may no longer be invoked when there are other options available. 
• Extract from the 2022 Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations relating to COVID-19 and maritime labour issues.
• ILO Special Tripartite Committee (STC) on MLC,2006 - a statement issued by the officers of STC on 11 February 2022 pertaining to the continuing negative impact of the pandemic on seafarers' rights.

2. IMO

The below circulars represent the latest information to-date from the IMO.  

• Addendum no. 35/rev. 9  and rev.10 issued  on 1 and 10 February 2022 respectively provide consolidated lists of the IMO members that have so far notified IMO on their designation of seafarers as key workers. The latest list is shown below with the addition of Maldives and Peru:

• Addendum no.42 to IMO circular no. 4204 "Coronavirus (COVID-19)" issued on 17 September 2021 relating to joint IMO/ILO statement on upholding medical assistance obligations to seafarers and accelerating seafarer vaccination programmes.
• Addendum no. 43 to IMO circular no 4204 "Coronavirus (COVID-19)" issued on 1 November 2021 offering a list of global ports offering vaccinations for seafarers. 

3. Government States

Brazil

According to information from Vieira Rezende Advogados provided to BIMCO by Westshore Shipbrokers, the following measures are in place for disembarkation:

• Laboratory test carried out with maximum advance notice of 48 hours;
• A program to monitor the health of port workers that includes periodic testing protocols;
• Isolation of the crew member with suspicion, confirmation, or even those who are symptomatic but tested negative

Ukraine

 The government of Ukraine has advised, via an IMO circular letter no. 4232/Add.16 of the following COVID-19 measures: 

• Ship surveys, audits or inspections - requests for extension/postponement under force majeure or unforeseen exceptional circumstances will be considered on a-case-by-case basis.
• Validity of seafarer's CoC and CoP certificates including SEA - extended till 31 December 2022 for those onboard ships and their certificates have expired on or after 1st March 2020.
• Validity of seafarer's CoC and CoP certificates including SEA - extended till 31 December 2022 or one contract, whichever is later, from the date of expiry for those currently ashore and their certificates have expired on or after 1st January 2021.
• Medical certificates of seafarers onboard ships - expired medical certificates allowed for maximum of three months.
• Seafarer's identity document - extended to 31 December 2022 for those onboard ships and their document has expired on or after 1 March 2020.
• Seafarer's identity document and medical certificates to be revalidated for those seafarers ashore with these documents that have expired or about to expire.  

Please read the circular for full guidance.

4. World Health Organization (WHO)

On 21 January 2022,  WHO issued an updated global technical brief and priority action required for Member states to enhance readiness for Omicron ( B.1.1.529), of which WHO has given an overview.  The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high for a number of reasons (eg significant growth advantage over Delta leading to rapid spread in the community) and continuing to result in significant increases in hospitalisation as well as posing overwhelming demands on health care systems in most countries. The rise is also due to evidence indicating immune evasion causing the quick spread of Omicron and research efforts are ongoing to better understand Omicron’s escape potential against vaccine- and infection induced immunity.  A risk-based approach to adjust international travel measures in a timely manner is recommended and efforts to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination coverage as rapidly as possible should continue. See WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant for additional information.

Please see BIMCO-WHO for more information.

5. IMO Crew Change - National Focal Point for Crew Change and Repatriation of Seafarers

According to GISIS today, the list of countries (48) informing the IMO of their national focal point of contact for crew change and repatriation of seafarers are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium,  Brazil, Canada, the Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Ecuador ( new) Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Libya , the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco ( new) Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore , Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,Thailand , Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu. 

6. Others

There is no news issued this week.

7. BIMCO

BIMCO General COVID-19 Links

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 :

• Details about implementation measures imposed for sea transport
• Overview of challenges to crew mobility
• Overview of extensions and exceptions to seafarers' certificates
• COVID-19 seafarers' mental health

You can also view all information on our COVID-19 landing page.