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Coronavirus poses major challenges for seafarers on merchant ships - Dry Bulk
COVID-19 has already caused the loss of thousands of human lives and the imposition by authorities of travel restrictions and lockdowns of cities, provinces and countries across the world.
Communities across most continents and economies are currently subjected to this serious threat and resulting turmoil.
During this difficult pandemic, INTERCARGO wishes to remind societies and nations that without merchant ships and seafarers, cargoes cannot be transported between continents.
Dry bulk carriers remain the workhorses of international shipping, which transports approximately 90% of world trade, serving essential needs such as food and energy: main and minor dry bulks include cereals, grain, agricultural and forest products as well as iron and other mineral ores, coal and fertilizers and several other basic goods serving infrastructure for the well-being of populations.
INTERCARGO wishes to highlight the logistical challenges with the repatriation of seafarers who completed their sea service and seek their relief and re-joining their families. The relief process is stalled as many port states have imposed local regulations, travel and quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19, despite the IMO circulars to be mindful of free access to seafarers.
While its Association is supportive of IMO’s and other stakeholders’ issued guidance, INTERCARGO urges IMO Member States and all Port States to adopt a pragmatic approach in assisting shipowners and seafarers to overcome these challenges by removing undue hinderance for seafarers to leave or join a ship in their ports.Posted On:24-Mar-2020
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Call to designate seafarers as key workers to keep supply chains moving - theloadstar.com
The shipping industry has called for seafarers to be designated as key workers, to keep vital maritime supply chains flowing.
In a joint letter to the the UN, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) say the world’s governments must ensure ports remain open, while facilitating crew changes with as few obstacles as possible.
They wrote: “Every month, around 100,000 seafarers need to be changed over from the ships they operate in order to comply with relevant international maritime regulations, governing safe working hours and crew welfare.
“We therefore wish to emphasise the vital need for the world’s professional merchant seafarers to be granted appropriate exemptions from any national travel restrictions when joining or leaving their ships, in order to keep the world’s maritime supply chains functioning.”Posted On:24-Mar-2020
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UK NGO: Seafarers Calling for Help - The Maritime Executive
The U.K.-based NGO Human Rights at Sea has been deluged with cases of seafarers seeking to highlight their plight after being retained on vessels after sign-off or having been left ashore in foreign countries without funds.
The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is being urgently addressed by organizations such as the ICS, ITF and Intermanager, with input from the global welfare organizations.
Nonetheless, the flow of cases in to the charity, particularly from Indian seafarers, has been unprecedented. In just four hours, 24 cases came into the NGO from seafarers seeking to raise greater awareness of their circumstances.
Reports of non-payment of wages, contract extensions without informed consent, crew being left in foreign States to pay hotel bills and to seek flights home using their own funds, appear to be increasing, says the NGO.Posted On:24-Mar-2020
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News Content Hub - Coronavirus: free seafarer e-learning introduced - Riviera Maritime Media
Seagull Maritime and Videotel have launched a new program advising mariners on methods of preventing infection and procedures to follow if they do become victim to this highly contagious virus
This follows concerns over seafarer health and safety as Covid-19 spreads worldwide onshore, in ports and on ships.
In the e-learning program Coronavirus - How to Beat it, seafarers are reminded how to wash their hands using liquid soap and warm water and other preventative measures.
There are also guidelines to follow onboard if seafarers think they have become infected. These should reduce the likelihood of spreading the infection to others in the crew.Posted On:24-Mar-2020
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Freighter ran on rock, Russian crew rescued, Scotland - Maritime Bulletin
General cargo ship KAAMI ran aground on the rock, known locally as Eugenie Rock which in about 6 nm North West off Duntulm, Isle of Skye, Scotland, at 0150 UTC Mar 23, reported RLNI UK. The Portree Lifeboat was launched at 2.24am., also were deployed the Emergency Towing Vessel IEVOLI BLACK (IMO 9439242) and the Pharos, a Northern Lighthouse Board buoy-laying vessel. 8 all Russian crew were airlifted to Stornoway by duty Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, all are safe. Stornoway coastguard said weather conditions were “challenging” and stormy with high seas at the time of the rescue.
According to track, the ship was still on the rocks as of 1600 UTC Mar 23 with AIS on, offshore tug IEVOLI BLACK standing by. The ship is en route from Belfast to Slite Sweden.Posted On:24-Mar-2020
Credits: www.maritimebulletin.net |
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Coronavirus And Crew Restrictions; What To Keep In Mind - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide
Crew unable to disembark, service engineers unable to maintain essential equipment and classification societies unable to do scheduled ship surveys. This is the new reality for many, as several port authorities and port state authorities are imposing restrictions on mobility due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Since January, BIMCO has been tracking these restriction and is offering an updated overview of how this is impacting scheduled operations.
Initially, restrictions targeted Chinese citizens without considering whether they had spent several months on board prior to the outbreak. When the Coronavirus started local circulation outside China, restrictions gradually changed to include new clusters.
In general, restrictions are either depending on
• Travel history
• Nationalities
If the restrictions are depending on travel history, it is important to take the following into account
• Where has the crew been recently and at which ports has the ship called?
• What is the travel history for supernumeraries such as:
o Cargo superintendents
o Passengers
o Accompanying spouses and children
o Guards – if employed on other ships recently, these itineraries should also be considered
If restrictions are depending on nationalities, it is important to take the following into account
• What are the nationalities of the crew on board?
• What is the ship’s country of registry?Posted On:24-Mar-2020
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Shanghai eases crew change ban - Lloyd s List
Crew members will be allowed to go ashore. But before going home, those workers on vessels from 24 countries deemed to pose high infection risks must complete a 14-day quarantine period starting from the time they leave the last port. This will be based on deck log records
Despite the move to avoid draconian impositions on crew movement, the Shanghai government asks shipping firms to try as much as possible to reduce the crew changes on vessels from the key countries Posted On:24-Mar-2020
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