Calls for governments worldwide to soften their hard-line stance on the granting of visas and quarantine exemptions to seafarers are gaining momentum.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has called for swift action to give seafarers visa, border and quarantine exemptions in order to make crew changes possible and resolve the present crisis.
ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton represented the global federation’s one million seafaring members today at the International Maritime Virtual Summit on Crew Changes hosted by the United Kingdom in London.
“Governments today adopted a statement pledging to urgently take forward a range of actions to ‘avert the global crisis that is unfolding at sea’ for the more than 200 000 seafarers who are trapped working on ships beyond their contracts, and desperately wanting to return home,” said Cotton.
“We call on those ministers and officials who signed the dotted line to head back to their countries and follow through on these critical pledges by bringing in practical exemptions and waivers that allow seafarers to move freely to enable safe crew changes and repatriation to their home countries.”
The ITF has repeatedly warned that if governments fail to act to bring in practical exceptions for seafarers, and support more flights being available, then there are serious risks for the wellbeing of seafarers, for maritime safety, and for critical supply chains.