The ITF urged flag states to take responsibility and account for the health and wellbeing of all crew and passengers onboard their vessels, amid the humanitarian crisis brought by COVID-19 pandemic.
This call comes as the impact of COVID-19 outbreak has made global headlines throughout the maritime industry, in particular the cruise ship industry.
Firstly, the Diamond Princess was quarantined at the Port of Yokohama in Japan in February, dominating international coverage.
Last week, the Grand Princess was generating headlines after it was refused permission to dock in California amid speculation that some passengers and crew had tested positive for Covid-19.
This week, the coronavirus-stricken Braemar was turned away from several Caribbean ports and spent days searching for somewhere to dock until Cuba agreed to allow the offloading of passengers and crew.
Meanwhile, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines confirmed that the Braemar is anchored approximately five miles off the coast of Havana, awaiting a charter flight from the UK where they will offload the British guests and crew only – no other nationalities. The rest of the passengers and crew are reportedly still in limbo.
In respect to the above, Dave Heindel, chair of the ITF seafarers’ section called attention to the failure of flag states to protect seafarers’ and passenger’s health amid this situation:
Attention needs to be called on the failure of the governments of Bermuda and the Bahamas in the cases of the Grand Princess and the Braemar for not accepting their responsibility to remedy the problem for its sovereign vessels,
…he said.
In each of these cases, the US, and following a diplomatic scramble, the Cuban government, have been working directly with the cruise liners to address the situation. But there has been little or no mention of the responsibility and duty of care of flag state governments to assist seafarers employed on these vessels.
Under international law, ITF underlined, the onus for the health and safety of the crew and passengers, and for the wider public that could be impacted, is on the flag state governments.
Flag states have sovereignty over their vessels, but for the coronavirus-affected cruise ships responsibility has fallen on the port states, national governments of the passengers and crew or even a third country. For instance, the Braemar was refused to dock in its own territory, with the vessel sent Cuba after the government authorised the offloading or passengers and crew,
…said Heindel.
This is simply insane and unsustainable. If the world continues to accept the Flag of Convenience system in its current form, it should be pointed out for its failures.
The feeling of doubt around the COVID-19 worst disruptions in the shipping industry led ECSA and the European Transport Worker’s Federation (ETF) to issue a joint letter to the EU expressing their compassion with all people being struck by the recent developments.
The letter underlined that the EU should ensure the shipping sector maintains its ability to perform and deliver all essential goods, energy, food, medicines and many other products from outside the EU to EU’s internal market, citizens and vital industries in all Member States and be transported as smoothly as possible between EU Member States.
