Phtoto: Anglo Eastern
Bjorn Hoojgaard The global crew change crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over and is set to be even worse this year according to top ship managers.
The new Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator surveying 10 leading ship managers presents what on the face of it a situation that looks to be far improved over last year, however, as border restrictions are reinstated with the Covid crisis in India and the spread of new variants senior executives say the picture is bleak.
The first Indicator shows that by mid-April 2021, 5.8% of seafarers were onboard vessels beyond the expiry of their contracts of employment, and 0.4% of seafarers had been onboard vessels for over 11 months, the maximum period allowed under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
IMO/Flickr The United Nations (UN) has released a human rights checklist for businesses as it forecasts a surge in stranded seafarers.
The joint initiative between the UN Global Compact, the UN Human Rights Office, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to assist businesses in upholding their responsibilities as new COVID variants and outbreaks threaten to cause further delays in crew change and repatriation.
The agencies said the number of crew stranded at sea beyond their contracts is currently around 200,000, but could return to the September 2020 highs of 400,000 as travel restrictions tighten again.
The Human Rights Due Diligence Tool aims to ensure that seafarers have their rights safeguarded in areas such as physical and mental health, access to family life and freedom of movement.
Potential Impact of Indian Crew Suspension May 05, 2021
The industry impact on crewing following Royal Caribbean Group’s temporary suspension of hiring Indian crew due to the COVID-19 situation in the country depends on whether other cruise lines follow suit and when India is deemed “safe.”
India is an important source country for crew recruitment, and many Indians hold key positions in food and beverage and housekeeping, according to the Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSU).
The NSU said that latest estimates (2018)) showed that approximately 15 percent of crew and staff came from India, compared to 30 percent from the Philippines and 11 percent from Indonesia.
UN task force should probe why governments failed to fulfill obligations to seafarers during pandemic 06 May 2021 Press Release
ILO offices in Geneva
Shipowners and seafarers’ representatives have asked the United Nations to establish an interagency task force to examine the implementation and practical application of the MLC, 2006 during the pandemic, including its impact on seafarers’ fundamental rights and on the shipping industry.
The crew change crisis peaked at over 400,000 seafarers trapped on ships working beyond their contracts because of local Covid restrictions and the failure of governments to cooperate and coordinate to address the crisis.
The number of seafarers still stranded is around 200,000 and is on the rise again as authorities respond to new variants and explosions in cases like the devastating second wave currently tearing through India. While some governments have responded well, designating seafarers as key workers and facilitating
UN leaders urge companies relying on shipping supply chains to undertake urgent measures to protect seafarers’ rights
New due diligence tool aims to help businesses uphold their responsibility to protect human rights at sea as new COVID variants threaten to further delay crew
May 06, 2021 09:59 ET | Source: United Nations Global Compact United Nations Global Compact New York, New York, UNITED STATES
New York, NY, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 6 May 2021 A wide-ranging human rights checklist has today been issued to business enterprises engaged with the maritime industry to protect seafarers stranded on ships due to new COVID-19 variants and government-imposed travel restrictions, under a joint initiative by the UN Global Compact, the UN Human Rights Office, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).