The ship crew changeover issue (see Freight News article "150 000 to 200 00 crew trapped on board ships") is now reaching breaking point with the International Maritime Organization describing it as a humanitarian and ship safety crisis waiting to happen.
Governnments need to urgently intervene, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said during a virtual meeting organised by the IMO earlier this week to brief permanent representatives and liaison officers from IMO member states.
“We are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis and a real safety issue - we cannot expect seafarers currently on ships to stay at sea forever. It is the responsibility of governments to allow shipping to continue moving, and for seafarers to return to their homes, or get to their ships to begin work,” he added.
“It is estimated that some 150 000 seafarers are urgently waiting to leave their ships since their contracts as well as any extensions have expired and they need to be replaced by a similar number, since travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have severely hampered crew changeovers.
Some countries have made progress by designating seafarers as key workers, facilitating crew changes through implementing crew change protocols which have been endorsed by the IMO, by easing travel restrictions including facilitating the issuance of passports and visas, and by giving seafarers access to medical care. “But I remain very concerned about countries where restrictions are still in place for seafarers,” Lim said.
