Ship management association InterManager has agreed a deal to buy 1m single-shot Covid-19 vaccines for seafarers.
But the organisation is unable to officially place the $22m order until it has found a "recognised governmental" body to work with, as required by international law.
InterManager has previously revealed its frustration with international efforts to provide vaccines for crew.
Reduced rate
The association had signalled it would have to go it alone and has now successfully negotiated a reduced rate with producer Johnson & Johnson.
"All we require is a recognised governmental body to act as a conduit," InterManager president Mark O'Neil told members.
"I tear my hair out as to why we can’t get a single government body to authorise this. We could have these vaccines in a pretty short time frame."
InterManager is speaking to the UK and Cypriot governments, and has lined up other talks too.
But so far its efforts have drawn a blank.
O'Neil urged all ship managers to use their contacts to find a suitable government body.
Vessels grinding to a halt?
"We have to try. Most importantly, this is about the seafarers," he said.
The president warned inaction may have consequences.
"If we miss this opportunity then we’ll be kicking ourselves in a few months time when some vessels come to a grinding halt because we don't have vaccinated seafarers," added O'Neil, who is also chief executive of Columbia Shipmanagement.
InterManager also reported that Poland and the Netherlands have joined the US and Russia in beginning to vaccinate seafarers.
Progress is also being made in support of seafarers in Belgium, Romania and Denmark.
Belgium has said it was the first country in the world to prioritise seafarers for vaccines.
