As a result of the EU being the epicentre of COVID-19, several shipping companies are suspending operations, followed by the many restrictions issued about closed borders and ports; Therefore, Germany’s Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) suspends all operations.
Specifically, FSG and its subcontractors, suppliers as well as shipping company representatives at the yard have been affected by the pandemic. Therefore, the company decided to suspend all operations and production from Thursday, 19th March 2020.
In addition, Alex Gregg-Smith, Managing Director of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft stated that
We are taking these measures to provide the best possible protection for the people working at our shipyard. It is our aim to restart once the acute coronavirus threat has ended and to get operations back up and running again as quickly as possible.
The company’s move follows additional decisions taken by several shipping stakeholders, such as Sailors’ Society. The latter announced that is now offering to seafarers virtual chaplaincy.
Similarly, CLIA ocean-going cruise lines will be voluntarily and temporarily suspending cruise ship operations from US ports of call for 30 days as public health officials and the US Government continue to address COVID-19.
