The issue of crew change must be at the top of the industry’s agenda. Seafarers are amongst the world’s key workers, vital to the global transportation chain. All maritime nations, ports and airports should, as a matter of urgency, permit the travel in/out and sign-on/off of seafarers, with the necessary safety procedures, allowing them to join from and repatriate to their countries of residence with seafarer’s documents and without visas, while the consulates are closed in the seafarers’ countries of residence,

...noted Mr. Fafalios.

The remarks form part of an official statement for the upcoming 1st of May by INTERCARGO, the organisation representing dry bulk shipowners. The statement stressed the importance to remember the critical role of seafarers in continuing to transport food, medicines and other essential goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without efficient crew changes, the supply chain would break down leading to basic product shortages and greater hardships for people around the world,

...he added.

See also: Crew changes: Latest update for Chinese ports

On his part, Jay K. Pillai, INTERCARGO’s Vice-Chairman, noted that maritime authorities of Port States should join hands with their immigration departments to empathise with crews, treat them as key workers as requested by the IMO Secretary General, and permit crew change without undue restrictions in their ports to ensure safety at sea and of their territorial waters.

It must be remembered that some of these seafarers may have served their 4-9 months tour of duty and are not able to be relieved even after serving 12 months or more on board ship. Not only do they deserve our full support, empathy and compassion, but we must also consider the safety implications of the fatigue and depression that are an almost inevitable result of a seafarer being unable to re-unite with their family after such a long time on board while their families back home are enduring these challenging circumstances.

In the bulk carrier industry alone, there are close to 12,000 vessels employing over 300,000 seafarers globally.

Finally, Dr Kostas Gkonis, Secretary General of INTERCARGO, called on the sector to support the #HeroesAtSeaShoutOut campaign.

Under the campaign, the industry is calling vessels in ports to sound the horn at 1200 LT on May 1 to show consolidated support for seafarers worldwide.

Such initiatives remind seafarers they are not alone, in line with a recent message from the IMO Secretary General to seafarers, concludes Dr Gkonis.