Seafarers’ unions urged governments, particularly those with maritime responsibilities, to endorse universal access to COVID-19 vaccines, in an effort to prevent the crew change crisis from spiraling out of control for a third time.
According to ITF, there are still around 200,000 international seafarers forced to work on vessels beyond their contracts due to governments’ ongoing border and travel restrictions.
If the wealthy countries do not support patent waivers at the 8 June TRIPS Council meeting, then not only will more seafarers’ lives be lost – we will also miss our opportunity to be rid of the crew change crisis and the daily risk it places on essential supply chains.
…said International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Seafarers’ Section chair David Heindel.
At the same time, thousands seafarers have been on board more than a year. With unprecedented COVID-19 outbreaks gripping India and other major seafarer labour-providing nations, the maritime industry fears that the number of seafarers trapped working on ships could double within weeks.
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“We are on the precipice of a third wave of the crew change crisis,” warned Heindel. Now is the time for generosity and action from every kind of government. We need to see the home countries of seafarers prioritising them as key workers for vaccines. We need port States to offer vaccines to seafarers visiting their shores. We need flag States to vaccinate all seafarers on ships which fly their flags.”
…David Heindel added.
What is more, Heindel said that some governments were re-introducing border restrictions after earlier giving international seafarers exemptions to have crew changes.
“We are deeply concerned that the Norwegian government has announced it is reintroducing quarantine for seafarers regardless of their Covid or vaccination status. This is the time for port State governments to be introducing new and expanded green lanes for international seafarers, not going backwards with more restrictions. Now is the time for them to welcome seafarers and use their ports as seafarer vaccination hubs.”
“Securing the global shipping industry requires global cooperation. The rich countries who have strong vaccine programmes should now turn their minds and resources to helping vaccinate these key workers,” Heindel concluded.
