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Dubai-headquartered GAC has joined more than 300 shipping and human rights leaders in signing the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change in a worldwide call to action to end the unprecedented crew change crisis caused by COVID-19. Other signatories include A.P. Møller – Mærsk, BP, BW, Cargill, COSCO, DOW, Euronav, MISC Group, NYK, Rio Tinto, Shell, Trafigura, Unilever and Vale.
Hundreds of thousands of seafarers from across the globe have been left stranded working aboard ships beyond the expiry of their initial contracts and are unable to be relieved since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Fatigue after long periods at sea has significant consequences on the physical and mental wellbeing of seafarers. It also increases the risk of maritime incidents and environmental disasters and poses a threat to the integrity of maritime supply chains, which carry 90 per cent of global trade.
Despite significant efforts by international organisations, unions, companies, and some governments to resolve this untenable crew change crisis, many see the situation getting worse as governments bring in more travel bans in response to the new strains of the Covid-19 virus. National authorities around the world continue to see crew changes and international travel as a COVID-19 risk; high-quality health protocols are not being consistently implemented by ship operators; and the disruption of international air travel has reduced the number of flights between traditional crew change hubs and major seafaring nations.
GAC joins more than 300 companies and organisations in recognising their shared responsibility across the entire maritime value chain, and beyond, to ensure that the crew change crisis is resolved as soon as possible. The Declaration identifies four main actions to facilitate crew changes and keep global supply chains functioning. They are to: recognise seafarers as key workers and give them priority access to Covid-19 vaccines; establish and implement gold standard health protocols based on existing best practice; increase collaboration between ship operators and charterers to facilitate crew changes; and ensure air connectivity between key maritime hubs for seafarers.
“Seafarers have worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic to keep the world supplied with food, energy and other vital goods,” says GAC Group President Bengt Ekstrand. “By a cruel twist of fate, they have become its victims, stranded on their ships, unable to disembark and return to their homes. This cannot be allowed to continue. That is why GAC has signed the Neptune Declaration calling for action to resolve this unprecedented humanitarian crisis and pledge to press for change to improve their situation and continue our work to facilitate crew changes around the world.”
