The Cyprus Shipping Chamber appealed to G20 leaders to enable crew change, reports Safety4Sea.
What is the appeal?
The Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) joined a global appeal to G20 leaders to enable crew changes and protect access to healthcare onshore.
Urges co-operation
CSC said it supports the message from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) urging for co-operation between UN agencies, governments and airlines to facilitate crew changes.
Their recommendation is to establish a special G20 taskforce on the issue of ships’ crew changes as an effective response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Actions to address the global challenge
G20 finance ministers and central bank governors have tasked relevant working groups to deliver a roadmap to take urgent actions to address the global challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In their joint appeal, ICS and ITF said that
“merchant ships move the world’s medical supplies, food, energy and raw materials, plus the manufactured products and components which, due to complex global supply chains, are necessary for national economies to function effectively and for the preservation of jobs.”
They added that a coordinated global action is needed to protect the efficient flow of imports and exports carried by sea.
Viable solutions on crew changes
The Cyprus Shipping Chamber collaborates with local stakeholders, in order to identify viable solutions on crew changes issues and to safeguard seafarers’ access to healthcare onshore.
Exemption from travel restrictions
The ICS and the ITF also urged G20 to designate professional seafarers and marine personnel, regardless of nationality, as “key workers” providing an essential service. This personnel should also be exempted from national travel or movement restrictions.
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Source: Safety4Sea
