08 April 2020
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) propose that governments worldwide come together to identify seaports in their countries, and appropriate airports nearby, from where crew changes can be resumed as soon as possible, and to inform the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) accordingly. The proposal was expressed in an open letter to G20 governments, in which both organisations raise grave concern for thousands of seafarers whose duty on board has ended but are forced to remain at sea for additional months due to current national travel restrictions. The call already resonated with the European Union. Earlier today, the European Commission issued detailed guidelines on repatriating cruise ship passengers and protecting ship crews. The Commission also called on EU Member States to create a network of ports where crew changes can take place without delays, with adequate facilities for seafarers to undertake medical checks, quarantine if required and transport connections onward to their home country.