Category: News

United Nations’ Agencies issue a Joint Statement calling on all Governments to immediately recognise seafarers as key workers, and to take swift and effective action to eliminate obstacles to crew changes, so as to address the humanitarian crisis faced by the shipping sector, ensure maritime safety and facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic Read the statement here on our website      

IMCA is collaborating with its International and European maritime social partners, the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) in writing to the EU institutions, i.e. the Presidents of the European Parliament, Council, Commission and to the German Presidency, as well as the heads of EU Member States on the urgent topic of crew changes. The letters call for political leadership and commitment to the welfare of seafarers. These letters highlight the fact that all industry stakeholders have been working incessantly over the past months to ensure crew changes are able to happen. While guidance

The COVID-19 related restrictions on crew changes have a major impact on the health and well-being of seafarers. Although some Governments have taken action to alleviate the situation, more than 200,000 seafarers are still waiting to be repatriated, many remaining on board long beyond the end of their original contracts. We would like to invite you to take part in a short survey on health protection measures on board ships in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The objective of this survey is to gain further understanding of the health protection measures introduced by companies onboard their ships during the pandemic,

The International Maritime Organisation has received Recommendations for port and coastal States on the prompt disembarkation of seafarers for medical care ashore during the COVID-19 pandemic, developed by a broad cross section of global industry associations in consultative status with the Organization representing the maritime transportation sector, including IMCA. Read the full IMO Circular Letter No 4204/Add 23

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) supports the call to action for governments to recognise offshore energy sector workers and seafarers as Key Workers on a global basis.Offshore Energy workers and seafarers have not yet been classified as Key Workers in many countries. This means that crew movement to and from ships is severely hampered by stringent border control measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to a crisis at sea: there are 200,000 workers who have overrun their contracts and are currently stranded on ships. Another 200,000 are at shore, waiting to start their tours of duty.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the global economy and continues to present the marine contracting sector with some significant challenges, particularly when in association with the effects of the recent fall in the price of oil. This Information Note provides members with information intended to help them safely re-establish working arrangements as restrictions on movement and social contact are modified. The information herein is drawn from good practice occupational health and safety guidance provided by our members, by governments, and by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is anticipated that the risk of transmission of COVID-19

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

ICAO, ILO, and IMO issue joint call to world governments on need for ‘key worker’ designations for essential air and sea personnel The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) joined the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 26 May 2020, in issuing a new Joint Statement on the need to ensure ‘key worker’ designations for the millions of skilled personnel now maintaining essential global air and sea trade capacities. The call to world governments comes as COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines continue to curtail travel and restrict border movements, ports and airports are being closed and ships

Members are invited to complete a very short survey to support industry efforts to encourage Governments to implement the IMO Recommended Framework of Protocols for Ensuring Safe Ship Crew Changes and Travel During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic (Circular Letter No.4204/Add.14of 5 May 2020) and facilitate crew changes throughout the pandemic in as many ports as possible. ICS is collecting information on the ability of ships to conduct crew changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please fill in theCrew Change Report Form– it only takes one minute to complete and is entirely anonymous. Shipping companies or Mastersare requested to complete the form

View COVID_19 update which collates the ongoing work of IMCA in tackling the many practical issues that have arisen as a result of lockdowns and travel restrictions. It also contains feedback from a number of Member companies and other associations on some current practices in addressing these problems. We would encourage our membership to share their solutions with us for the betterment of our industry.News Coverage Date Article Source 16 April 2020 The maritime industry remains active during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic in a bid to ensure the future of the industry…. Read more Industry active during COVID-19 pandemic Maritime Journal 15 April 2020