- The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis.
- The updates are about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including crew change.
- It also includes information from the United Nation bodies like the IMO, WHO and ILO.
A recent news article published in the BIMCO reveals about the BIMCO Covid 19 Weekly Report on 20 August 2021.
IMO Circulars
The below circulars represent the latest information to-date from the IMO.
- Addendum no.4/Rev.3 to IMO circular no. 4204, issued on 16 July 2021, providing a further update to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)’s guidance for ship operators relating to the protection of the health of seafarers.
- Addendum no. 35/rev. 7 , issued on 20 May 2021, provides a consolidated list of the IMO members that have so far notified IMO on their designation of seafarers as key workers.
IMO Crew Change
As per our BIMCO news of 12th April, the IMO has discontinued the issue of the IMO circular in series: MSC.7/circ. 1 relating to government states informing the IMO of their national focal point for crew change and repatriation of seafarers. Instead, the IMO’s online Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) will be used to contain such information.
According to GISIS today, the list of countries (45) informing the IMO of their national focal point of contact for crew change and repatriation of seafarers are: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, the Marshall Islands, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore (new), Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand , Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and Vanuatu.
Government States
Italy
Via an IMO circular letter no. 4231/Add.22, the Government of Italy advised that due to the improved COVID-19 situation resulting in increased mobility, the extension of the two-year medical medical certification for seafarers will be suspended from 1st October 2021.
Ukraine
The Government of Ukraine has advised, via an IMO circular letter no. 4232/Add.12 of the following :
- Validity of seafarer’s CoC and CoP certificates including SEA – extended till 31 December 2021
- Medical certificates of seafarers – expired medical certificates allowed for maximum of three months.
- Seafarer’s identity document – extended to 31 December 2021 for those expiring on or after 1 March 2020.
BIMCO General COVID-19 Links
BIMCO is continuously monitoring COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the shipping industry in particular on crew changes. Below are some of the type of information currently being provided by BIMCO :
- Details about implementation measures imposed for sea transport
- Overview of challenges to crew mobility
- Overview of extensions and exceptions to seafarers’ certificates
- COVID-19 seafarers’ mental health
You can also view all information on COVID-19 landing page.
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Source : BIMCO