Shipping has weathered the storm amid the rise in nationalism and protectionist policies around the world, was the key message of speakers at the latest ICS Leadership Insights series, discussing the importance of maritime trade in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
ICS has commissioned this Study on ‘Protectionism in Maritime Economies’ to provide an assessment of those protectionist/restrictive trade policies and measures that are currently being implemented by governments worldwide, which may be preventing national economies from reaping the full benefits of having access to efficient maritime transport services.
Several member states and international organisations have proposed that the IMO should reconsider the direction, in which the amendment of MARPOL Annex IV has taken concerning existing ships.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and BIMCO issued an approval procedure for in-water cleaning companies, aiming to set minimum requirements for approval of cleaning companies for various types of operations.
Nautilus International and the International Chamber of Shipping urged UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, to exempt seafarers from quarantine when returning to the UK from ‘red list’ countries.
In an industry first, ICS selected as network partner for taskforces on trade, energy, and finance & infrastructure to highlight the key role of shipping in global trade and the need to end ‘crew change crisis’. Namely, in the upcoming 2021 ‘ Business Twenty’ (B20), ICS has been selected as a network partner in which it will also present a report outlining the benefits of ending protectionism in maritime economies.
ICS has published the latest Flag State Performance Table for 2020-2021 which finds that many of the largest flag states – including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus– continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is leading calls for governments to put seafarers and frontline maritime shore workers at the head of the vaccine queue and to designate seafarers as key workers, to prevent a repeat of the 2020 ‘crew change crisis’.
The updated guidance aims to improve the safety and security of seafarers, the environment, the cargo, and the ships and assist in the development of a proper cyber risk management strategy.
The International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Committee of Experts sent a strong message to governments that they have failed in their duty of care towards seafarers under international law during the COVID-19 pandemic.
