ECSA expressed its full support on the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change that was launched, to protect seafarers and improve the current challenges that arose during the pandemic.
To remind, the Neptune Declaration was launched on January 26, with more than 300 signatory-companies, with the goal to deliver on the shared responsibility to resolve the global crew change crisis that has left hundreds of thousands of seafarers stranded at sea.
Referring to the Declaration, Martin Dorsman, ECSA Secretary-General stated that
ECSA stands behind our companies that have signed the Neptune Declaration, and the European shipping community fully commits to ensuring the rights and wellbeing of the seafarers who have been supporting the continuous running of the global supply chain.
The Declaration includes the following actions that have to be taken:
- Recognise seafarers as key workers and give them priority access to Covid-19 vaccines
- Establish and implement gold standard health protocols based on existing best practice
- Increase collaboration between ship operators and charterers to facilitate crew changes
- Ensure air connectivity between key maritime hubs for seafarers
Mr. Dorsman added that “Governments must now be held to account. The key to ending this humanitarian crisis is the close collaboration between the authorities, the whole maritime industry, and our social partners.”
He concluded that
We all have to realise that no action is not an option, because it would further worsen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and make it even harder for the world to recover from the aftermath.
