Ship manager V.Ships has successfully completed its first Covid-19 vaccinations on a vessel.
The company inoculated 13 Indian seafarers on the 35,000-dwt handysize Cabrera (built 2011), owned by Falcon Maritime, at Port Everglades in the US.
The pandemic situation is improving in many countries, but the number of cases is still increasing in many parts of the world, making vaccines more important than ever, V.Ships said.
The company said the Cabrera crew members represent the beginning of plans to roll out vaccines to all the manager's seafarers.
"We are grateful to the US and in particular to the Port Everglades Authorities, for identifying the necessity for seafarers to be vaccinated," said Franck Kayser, managing director of V.Ships unit Dania Ship Management.
V.Ships has written to its sea staff explaining that it fully supports the vaccination programmes being rolled out by nations across the globe.
The group believes jabs are an important step in restoring a level of normality.
"We are working closely with industry associations to ensure seafarers are recognised by UN bodies as key workers and, as such, countries should vaccinate seafarers at the earliest possible opportunity," V.Ships added.
Vaccinations are not mandatory, the group stressed, but it is recommending everyone at sea and on land follow the guidance of their respective governments and get inoculated.
Rules must still be obeyed
But seafarers will still have to follow Covid-19 protocols, even after having the vaccine.
"This means that public health measures, such as safe distancing, mask wearing and the use of safe transport and good hand hygiene, are mandatory," the company said.
TradeWinds reported earlier in May that ship managers and owners are routinely lining up crews for jabs during US port calls as 25 states offer vaccinations.
The rapid development of inoculation services for non-US seafarers has its roots in Florida's decision earlier this year to vaccinate cruiseship workers as part of the state's "Restart" programme.
Some states have also been including foreign visitors and workers within their own vaccination programmes, which has naturally spread to seafarers.
