The International Maritime Organization has renewed its call on national governments to solve the global crewing crisis as the UN general assembly kicks starts a week of high-level meetings.
The global regulator's Maritime Safety Committee on Monday adopted a resolution urging specific action to facilitate crew changes and seafarer access to medical care.
The moves came ahead of Thursday's side event on crew changes.
"This resolution should help ensure integrity of employment and human rights of seafarers and, consequentially, minimise disruptions to global trade," said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim on Monday in regard to the resolution.
Lim asked all governments to consider raising the issue of crew changes during the assembly's general debate this week.
The IMO has ramped up its push for action on the crew change crisis, where an estimated 300,000 seafarers are stuck aboard their ships, unable to disembark due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two weeks ago, Lim warned ships would no longer be able to operate safely unless seafarers are allowed to leave their ships and new crews allowed to take over.
Last week, the IMO joined with seven other UN agencies in two separate statements, the first demanding action on the crew change crisis and the second highlighting the issues the global supply chain is facing due to Covid-19.
The IMO and industry groups have spent much of the year calling for action on the issue to no avail.
Many governments have been reticent to allow seafarers to come and go through their borders, worried that they could aid the spread of the respiratory illness.
The IMO will hope to drive the point home on Thursday, alongside the International Labour Organization and the UN General Compact.
The event, which will be streamed online, intends to discuss the issue with industry leaders and the heads of UN agencies and governments and coincides with World Maritime Day.
