The Republic of Panama requested the collaboration of the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Kitack Lim, to mediate and assist seafarers and shipowners regarding a crisis involving ships in the Far East.
This situation affects some 74 vessels and more than 1,500 seafarers of various nationalities who are confined in their vessels in ports and waters of the People’s Republic of China. These vessels are fully loaded with imported coal from Australia.
Our mission in this regard is to find a reasonable and positive solution for the crew of these ships to return home. Let us remember that on September 21, 2020, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee adopted Resolution MSC.473 (ES.2) on recommended measures to facilitate changes in ship crews, access to medical care and travel of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the protocols developed by the industry to ensure crew changes and safe travel during the pandemic
stated the Minister of Maritime Affairs, Arch. Noriel Araúz in his letter.
He also added that the IMO’s diplomatic powers “can help us expose before the competent authorities that due to a commercial disagreement, the human rights and well-being of the crews of these ships are being ignored.”
In a commercial dispute or disagreement, the crews should not be involved, nor should their disembarkation be prevented, says Panama, especially if their employment contract has expired or they are on board against their will, taking into consideration that said crew member has worked uninterruptedly.
Additionally, under no circumstances shall the Member States of the Maritime Labour Convention (2006) deny the right of repatriation to any seafarer, due to the financial circumstances of the shipowners or the incapacity or unwillingness to these to replace a seafarer.
In addition, it is understood that it does not depend on the Flag States whether or not to allow the disembarkation of the crew when the ship is in jurisdictional waters or ports of another country. In this regard, Panama reiterates that its main objective is that the well-being of the seafarers be taken into consideration.
Finally, Minister Araúz reaffirmed the commitment of the Panama Maritime Authority to work jointly with the IMO, strengthening and promoting cooperation mechanisms that allow the maritime industry to continue to be a fundamental pillar in social and development sustainable economic worldwide.
