Stakeholders in the international shipping industry have asked world leaders to adopt crew change protocols, as thousands of seafarers face exhaustion at the helm of critical supply routes amid the current coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.In a joint letter, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) pressed the United Nations to persuade its 193 member-states to act urgently on the plight of over 200,000 tired, mentally-stretched seafarers currently stuck working on vessels across the globe and unable to be relieved of their duties.ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said there were 200,000 seafarers out there right now desperate to get home to their own beds, see their families and hug their kids.“They’ve been stuck on these ships, keeping global trade running since this pandemic blew up. Enough is enough — they have earned their ticket home. Now governments must make that happen,” he said.Over 200,000 seafarers onboard vessels worldwide have completed their contractual tour of duty, but have been prevented from returning home. Many of these seafarers would be experiencing adverse effects on their mental health and reduced ability to safely perform their roles in the face of increasing fatigue.ICS Secretary-General Guy Platten said they addressed the letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres to signal the seriousness of this situation.“Since the onset of the crisis, the well-being and safety of our seafarers has been our number one priority. While progress has been made, and limited numbers of crew changes have occurred, there is a pressing need to increase the speed and scale at which national governments adopt the crew change protocols,” he said.They urged Guterres to push the government to adopt the 12-step set of protocols issued by the UN’s own maritime regulator, the International Maritime Organization.“Time is running out. We ask action be taken immediately, ahead of 16 June 2020 — the final agreed deadline to implement crew changes for our seafarers,” the group added.They stressed that stringent restrictions imposed by many countries, including denial of shore leave and access to essential medical assistance, were contributing to fatigue and exhaustion.“We are concerned about suicide and self-harm among this vulnerable population of workers,” the group said.Governments must adhere to the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights, in which states have a duty to protect human rights that were ‘built on the fundamental obligation of governments to protect rights-holders, which applies both under normal circumstances and at times of crisis.”Some national governments have taken positive steps such as designating seafarers’ essential workers. This provides a blueprint for other nations on what steps can be taken to resolve this issue.As travel restrictions swept across global economies, trade continued, thanks to 1.2 million seafarers onboard ships across the world. This commitment to keeping supplies of food, fuel and goods, including vital medical supplies, has enabled governments to focus on the Covid-19 pandemic in their countries. However, states must allow crews to safely rotate on and off ships at ports and return home to their countries of origin.
