United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres has called for governments to recognise seafarers as key workers and to facilitate crew change.
His comments were made to coincide with World Maritime Day and a planned presentation by the International Maritime Organization on the crisis at the United Nations General Assembly today.
Guterres said the crisis is now affecting 800,000 seafarers including those trapped at sea and those who cannot join ships because of travel restrictions.
“I remain very concerned about the growing humanitarian and safety crisis facing hundreds of thousands of these indispensable workers. Despite the unprecedented conditions brought about by the pandemic, seafarers have continued to tirelessly support the often invisible global logistics chain,” he said.
He described seafarers as, “physically and mentally exhausted, away from their families and loved ones,” pointing out that some seafarers had worked as long as 17 months away from home.
The IMO presentation at the UN General Assembly is intended to encourage governments to recognise seafarers as key workers. Earlier this week the IMO member states agreed a new resolution on the issue.
The IMO has brought in business leaders to back its call to the UN. Executives from Unilever and Maersk will join the IMO event to outline the impact on global supply chains of the growing crisis.
Chief executives from the 30 member companies which are part of the Consumer Goods Forum, including Unilever and Danone, will back the IMO presentation.
Unilever’s chief supply chain officer, Marc Engel will tell the virtual meeting, “Seafarers are essential workers that keep global supply chains functioning. Without them, there are no masks, no covid tests, no hand sanitisers, or other essential goods. There is no food, there is no medicine. These supply chains are on the verge of serious disruption.”
Engel is calling on UN member states to recognise seafarers rights and avoid disruption to the supply chains.
Some flag states are now taking action. From 1 October the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has said it will not accept extensions of service beyond 14 months without taking leave.
Panama, the world’s largest flag state, has said it has enforced similar measures.
IMO secretary general Kitack Lim said: “Action is needed — now. We all depend on seafarers. They should not be the collateral victims in this pandemic. Seafarers deliver for us — and now we need to deliver for them.”
