COPENHAGEN, Denmark,
Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Global industry and human rights leaders, including A.P. Møller
- Mærsk, BP, BW, Cargill,
COSCO, DOW, Euronav, MISC, NYK, Rio Tinto, Shell, Trafigura,
Unilever and Vale, sign the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer
Wellbeing and Crew Change in a worldwide call to action to end the
unprecedented crew change crisis caused by Covid-19.
Hundreds of thousands of seafarers from across the globe have
been left stranded working aboard ships beyond the expiry of their
initial contracts and are unable to be relieved since the outbreak
of the coronavirus pandemic. Fatigue after long periods at sea has
significant consequences on the physical and mental wellbeing of
seafarers. It also increases the risk of maritime incidents and
environmental disasters, and poses a threat to the integrity of
maritime supply chains, which carry 90% of global trade.
Despite significant efforts by international organizations,
unions, companies and some governments to resolve this untenable
crew change crisis we are starting to see the situation getting
worse as governments bring in more travel bans in response to the
new strains of the Covid-19 virus. A number of key issues leave
this critical situation unresolved: national authorities around the
world continue to see crew changes and international travel as a
Covid-19 risk; high-quality health protocols are not being
consistently implemented by ship operators; and the disruption of
international air travel has reduced the number of flights between
traditional crew change hubs and major seafaring nations.
"We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis at sea. Throughout
the coronavirus pandemic, seafarers have kept the world supplied
with food, energy and other vital goods, with no line of sight of
when to go home to their families. They have become hostage of the
situation and unable to disembark from their ships. Yet, we can put
an end to the crew change crisis without any risk to the general
public health," says Jeremy
Nixon, CEO of ONE.
More than 300 companies and organizations recognize that they
have a shared responsibility based on their roles across the entire
maritime value chain, and beyond, to ensure that the crew change
crisis is resolved as soon as possible. They have signed the
Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew
Change that defines four main actions to facilitate
crew changes and keep global supply chains functioning:
- Recognize seafarers as key workers and give them priority
access to Covid-19 vaccines
- Establish and implement gold standard health protocols based on
existing best practice
- Increase collaboration between ship operators and charterers to
facilitate crew changes
- Ensure air connectivity between key maritime hubs for
seafarers
"Seafarers play a significant role in the global race to halt
the coronavirus pandemic by providing critical medical medical
supplies to the world's population, particularly in developing
economies. They are crucial to millions of peoples' wellbeing. We
call on our peers, government bodies and other stakeholders to join
us in our efforts to ensure that the rights and wellbeing of the
frontline workers of global supply chains are respected," says
Graham Westgarth, Chairman of V.
Group.
The Neptune Declaration has been developed by a taskforce of
stakeholders from across the maritime value chain including A. M.
Nomikos, Cargill, Dorian LPG,
GasLog, Global Maritime Forum, International Chamber of Shipping,
International Maritime Employers' Council, International Transport
Workers' Federation, ONE, Philippine Transmarine Carriers,
Sustainable Shipping Initiative, Synergy Group, V. Group, and World
Economic Forum.
See the Neptune Declaration and the full list of
undersigning companies and organizations here.
Further information: Head of Communications, Torben
Vemmelund at tve@globalmaritimeforum.org or +45 2224 1446.