Industry Group Urges the UK Government to Exempt all Offshore Energy Sector Workers from its Quarantine Restrictions
Published on 10 June 2020
The global Offshore Industry Group, comprising IADC, IAGC, IMCA, IOGP and ISOA urges the UK Government to exempt all offshore energy sector workers from the 14-day quarantine restrictions introduced on the 8 June.
The Group has the support of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General for its Recommendations (IMO Circular Letter 4204/Add.13) calling upon Governments to recognise offshore energy sector workers as ‘key workers’. This allows regular crew movements during mobilisation and demobilisation and exempts such workers from quarantine restrictions.
The Group has formally written to more than fifty governments and maritime authorities urging them to implement these Recommendations.
In a subsequent document (IMO Circular Letter 4204/Add.18), the Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) jointly issued a Statement to enlist the support of Governments for the facilitation of crew changes in ports and airports in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To facilitate the required crew changes the UN agencies, as a matter of the utmost priority, encourage Governments and relevant national and local authorities to grant seafarers, marine personnel, fishing vessel personnel, offshore energy sector personnel, aviation personnel and service provider personnel at airports and ports any necessary and appropriate exemptions from national travel-related, health-related or movement restrictions in order to facilitate their joining or leaving ships, aircrafts, airports and cargo facilities.
Despite assurances that international offshore energy sector workers would be exempt from the quarantine restrictions which the UK Government introduced on 8 June, these workers have not yet been included in the list of exemptions. These workers perform a wide variety of specialised roles which are all critical to the daily activities required to maintain global energy supplies, such as windfarm engineers and offshore survey specialists.
About IMCA
IMCA represents the vast majority of offshore marine contractors and the associated supply chain in the world, with members from over 60 countries. It publishes an extensive technical library of guidance documents on operational good practice, safety promotional materials, timely information notes and safety flashes. Its members benefit from a technical structure comprising four main divisions covering Offshore Diving, Marine (including an Offshore Renewable Energy Committee), Remote Systems & ROVs, and Offshore Surveying.
These are supported by a committee structure focused on: health, safety, security and the environment; competence and training; lifting and rigging; marine policy and regulatory affairs; and contracts and insurance. The association’s global coverage is organised into five geographic regions: Asia-Pacific, Europe & Africa, Middle East & India, North America, and South America.
Further information on IMCA and its work on behalf of the global offshore marine construction industry is available from www.imca-int.com and imca@imca-int.com.
The Association has LinkedIn and Facebook groups and its Twitter handle is @IMCAint
About IADC –The International Association of Drilling Contractors
About IAGC – International Association of Geophysical Contractors
About IOGP – The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers
About ISOA – The international Support Vessel Owners Association