NEWS AND EVENTS
The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is described as the greatest global shock in decades. Millions of lives have been lost, and the world’s economy likely faces the worst recession since the 1930s. The international shipping industry, which is responsible for around 90% of world trade, is no exception and has also been severely affected.
With more than 1.2 million seafarers at sea at any one time, are working tirelessly to keep the world supply change moving. Especially food and medicine. We are thankful to our seafarers.
Yet, Vaccination, Travel restrictions imposed by governments around the world have created significant hurdles to crew changes and repatriation of seafarers, which has led to a growing humanitarian crisis as well as significant concerns for the safety of seafarers and shipping. IMO has intervened promptly by urging its Member States to designate seafarers as key workers, so they can travel between the ships that constitute their workplace and their countries of residence. Though the Travel restriction has been eased off in some countries, but some are yet to.