UN adopts resolution to designate seafarers as key workers
Overview
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 1st December urging all nations to designate seafarers as key workers and implement the crew change protocols established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) comprising of 193 member states has by consensus, adopted a resolution on 1st December, calling all nations to co-operate and help designate seafarers as key workers, a group who has been greatly impacted by the corona restrictions placed worldwide, making crew changes and repatriation of seafarers an increasingly logistical challenge for all involved.
The resolution also calls for governments and relevant stakeholders to implement the IMO-recognized protocols so that safe ship crew changes and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic can be carried out smoothly taking into account the essential preventive measures taken by port states against COVID-19.
The IMO welcomes the UNGA resolution and hopes that this will pave the way for seafarers to be given priority for vaccination so as to allow them to continue to be an important player in maintaining the flow of the global supply chain.
The full text can be downloaded here: https://www.undocs.org/en/A/75/L.37
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
- COVID-19 - Christmas tribute to seafarers
You can also view all information on our COVID-19 landing page.
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Posted:
02 December 2020
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