The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) notes with deep concern the challenges and the impact that restrictions and other measures adopted by governments around the world to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the protection of seafarers’ rights as laid out in the Convention.
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has announcement new regulation for vessels calling at Korean Ports to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On 10 December 2020, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication in Turkey issued a Circular containing new Covid-19 precautionary measures which need to be complied with by Pilot Stations and the vessels at Turkish ports.
The IMO in its Circular Letter No.4204/Add.35 14 December 2020 announces that, at the time of issuing the letter, 46 States have designated seafarers as key workers.
The UK Club’s Correspondents in China, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, would like to alert Members to recent cases where crewmembers onboard ships were required to perform antibody testing in addition to NAT (swab) tests prior to entering shipyards in Shanghai and Zhoushan.
The ports concerned have been busy putting in place the necessary measures for conducting crew change operations in compliance with the requirements laid down by the authorities.
California recently amended its state workers compensation laws to create a rebuttable presumption that COVID-19 injuries arise out of an employment relationship and are compensable.
The International Group and its 13 constituent P&I Clubs, have become extremely concerned about the detrimental effect upon the mental well-being of seafarers as a result of the prolongation of their contracts of employment due to the pandemic.
The Club has been working with the Innovative Maritime Emotional Intelligence Center (I.M.E.Q) to create this important downloadable advice titled, living with lockdown at sea.
On 24 September, the Chinese Ministry of Transport, General Administration of Customs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly issued an Announcement (Announcement of the Ministry of Transport No.
UK Club correspondents in South Korea have provided the following two updates regarding strict regulations for vessels arriving at South Korea with crew joining from certain countries.
On the 29th September 2020 the ICS published the attached guidelines for ship operators for protecting seafarers during Covid-19, this publication has been supported by the International Group.
On 11 September 2020, the IMO posted a Joint Statement by the United Nations Specialized Agencies calling on all Governments to immediately recognise seafarers as key workers and to take swift and effective action to eliminate obstacles to crew changes.
Recently, Chinese ports are strengthening epidemic prevention and control measures on vessels having changed crew overseas within 14 days, especially for Pilipino seafarers or vessels that have changed crew members in the Philippines.
In the following article, ‘Shame on port states’ in the July 2020 edition of the Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, the author, Dennis L. Bryant of Bryant’s Maritime Consulting, adds his voice to the maritime industry’s pleasfor safe crew changes.
