1. IMO

The below represent the latest information from the IMO.  

• Addendum no.35/Rev.12, issued on 15 November 2022, provides a consolidated list of the IMO members that have so far notified IMO on their designation of seafarers as key workers. The latest list of 66 notifications is shown below with the addition of Jordan.

2. Government States 

Brazil

Proinde reported on 5 November 2022, that via Resolution RDC 759/2022  that was passed by that National Agency of Health Surveillance ( ANVISA),  crew change and shore leave are now allowed without prior permission to be granted by ANVISA.

Ukraine 

The government of Ukraine updating the IMO of measures adopted in relation to extension of validity of seafarers' certificates to 30 June 2023 due to the Russian-Ukraine war and COVID- 19 outbreak. For full details, please refer to IMO circular letter no. 4232/Add.18. 

3. World Health Organization (WHO)

The WHO issued a statement on 18 October 2022  in respect of the 13th meeting held by the International Health Regulations ( 2005) ( IHR) Emergency Committee on 13 October 2022 regarding COVID-19 pandemic. The said meeting confirmed, amongst others, that COVID-19 continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) even though the public perception is that the pandemic is over in some parts of the world. It is still a PHEIC as there remains a risk of new variants that could exacerbate ongoing health impact, particularly as winter approaches in the Northern hemisphere (and learning from the Southern Hemisphere), and there is still a need for a coordinated international response to address the inequalities in access to life-saving tools.

The set of temporary recommendations issued by WHO can be viewed at the end of the WHO Statement.

Please see BIMCO-WHO for more information.

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

According to GISIS today, the list of countries (60) 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, Bahrain (new), 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, Saudi Arabia ( new), Singapore , Sint Maarten ( Kingdom of the Netherlands) ,  Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname (new), Sweden, Thailand , Tunisia, Ministry of Transport ( new), Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu. 

5. Port State Control - MOU 

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 

6. 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.

7. Others 

8. 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
• COVID-19 seafarers' mental health

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