Tokyo MoU revealed intentions to adopt guidance for dealing with the circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak which impedes, among others, the industry from meeting statutory requirements stipulated in Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006).
The guidance potentially includes extending periods of service onboard of seafarers, delaying periods for surveys, inspections and audits, etc., but the Secretariat did not reveal more specific details.
The guidance is prepared based on the general principle that requests/issues would be considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant port State Authority.
In accordance with the guidance, the port State Authority should request the operator concerned to confirm that flag State and/or RO, relevant seafarers organizations (if appropriate) have been involved in the process.
For consideration of the request by the port State Authority, operators/companies concerned should provide a plan or process containing equivalent solutions to address the COVID-19 situation and letters of dispensation or exemption by the flag State or RO, under which the period of grace for delaying surveys, inspections or audits should be no more than three months, in accordance with the relevant regulations of conventions.
Tokyo MoU said it will review the guidance upon any future initiatives IMO/ILO or developments of the situation.