Someseafarers havenow beenon board their ships for more than 17 months,exceedingthe 11-months limit set out in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said, urging governments to act on the crew change crisis.
It has been almost six months since COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic. The resulting travel restrictions, limited number of flights and government lockdowns disabling crew changes have created a humanitarian crisis at sea.
More than300,000 seafarers and marine personnelare estimated to be stranded at sea and unable to be repatriated despitetheexpiry of theircontracts.A similar number of seafarers have been unable to join ships and relieve them.
Lim said that manyhave beendenied proper access to medical care and shore leave, in breach of their rights under the MLC and other international instruments.
The statement echoes concerns of numerous industry bodies on the impact of the situation on seafarers’health andwellbeing, but also for the safety of shipping.
“Overlyfatiguedand mentally exhaustedseafarersarebeingasked to continue operating vessels,increasingthe risk ofshippingcasualties,” the statement reads.
“Ifthe crew change crisis is not resolved soon, ships will no longer be able to operate safely pursuant to the organization’s regulations and guidelines, further exacerbating the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lim pointed out.
The call is being made on the back of a major environmental disaster in Mauritius caused by the Wakashio Capesize bulker, whose crew have been on board past the expiry of their contracts.
An investigation into the cause of the grounding and the oil spill is underway, however, preliminary findings from Panama show that the grounding could have been prevented if the crew hadn’t diverted from its course in an attempt to pick up Internet signal from the coast.
IMO Secretary-Generalsaidthat resolving the crew change crisis will require a “whole of government” approach involving several ministries.
He reiterated his call to all member states to designate seafarers as key workers providing an essential service, and to implement the IMO-approved Protocols to allow for safe and secure crew changes. He also insisted on the importanceofremovingother barriers to crew changes, such as visa and travel restrictions, andof providingseafarers with immediate access to medical care and medical facilities on shore, when needed.
Lim hasinvited member statesto raise the issue of seafarers and the crew change crisisduring the upcoming High-Level Week of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly,beginning on September 22, 2020.
ILO,IMOand the UN Global Compactwill hosta side event during that weekin orderto raise the visibility of the crew change crisis on World Maritime Day September24, 2020.
