Seafarer Covid-19 vaccination programmes are beginning to take off around the world and are providing increasing opportunities to protect crew against infection.
According to the International Christian Maritime Association, there are now 17 countries that are offering vaccinations to seafarers.
These include schemes in major labour supply countries including the Philippines, China, India and Indonesia.
For seafarers who are unable to be vaccinated at home, vaccinations are available at 85 different outlets at major US ports.
The North American Maritime Ministry Association reports that 35,000 seafarers have now been vaccinated in the US, compared with 20,000 earlier this month. The figures do not include those vaccinated privately, or through programmes run by cruise operators.
Foreign seafarers can also become vaccinated at some ports in the UK, including Southampton, where a walk-in system is being run at the local National Health Service vaccination centre.
There are calls to expand the UK scheme.
Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson and chief executive of the UK Chamber of Shipping Bob Sanguinetti have signed a joint letter to UK transport secretary Grant Shapps urging him to vaccinate seafarers at UK ports.
The two bodies have received verbal confirmation that seafarers of all nationalities are entitled to vaccination in the UK without registering with a doctor.
"The letter calls for a Department of Health and Social Care statement confirming the government's policy to be published as soon as possible to ensure a consistent approach to seafarer vaccination in all ports," the UK Chamber of Shipping said.
Germany has now expanded the availability of vaccines to foreign seafarers to six ports.
Among other recent developments, schemes run by Belgium and Netherlands have been expanded to include non-national seafarers.
While inoculation can protect seafarers against becoming ill from Covid-19 infection, there is not yet an internationally recognised system by which proof of vaccination can be used to facilitate crew change.
In a related development, the International Group of P&I Clubs has put together a frequently asked questions paper. The document covers the implications of crew vaccination for protection and indemnity cover.
Together with the International Chamber of Shipping the International Group has jointly released a publication looking at the legal and liability issues related to crew vaccination.
