A high-level maritime industry group representing ship owners, ports, classification societies, P&I clubs and marine equipment manufacturers, as well as ship agents and brokers, has come together under the coordination of the International Chamber of Shipping to draft recommendations for the facilitation of maritime trade during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three papers have been endorsed by the International Maritime Organisation to date.
The first, general guidance to national governments and authorities on maintaining maritime trade and recognising seafarers and shore-side workers as essential personnel, has been issued as IMO Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.6, and can be found here.
The second, providing a set of protocols for the management of crew changes whilst in the midst of a blanket ban on the movement of persons and international passenger flights, has been issued as Circular Letter No. 4204/Add. 14 and can be found here.
The third paper, Circular letter No. 4204/Add. 16 is intended to assist in managing the ship/port interface to ensure the safety of both seafarers and shore-side personnel and prevent the spread of COVID-19. A copy of that paper can be found here.
FONASBA is pleased and proud to have been able to contribute to the drafting of these documents, and by so doing to assist in ensuring that the maritime sector can continue to operate in the most efficient means possible whilst giving due regard to the need for robust and effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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