Maritime industry urges EU leaders to ensure crew changes for thousands of seafarers

Amid the heightened humanitarian crisis due to lack of sufficient action by governments in ensuring crew changes happen, European and international maritime industry stakeholders joined forces to seek political leadership and commitment by European leaders to the welfare of seafarers.

The European and international social partners for maritime transport ECSA, ETF, ICS, ITF, as well as CLIA, WSC, IMEC, INTERTANKO and INTERMANAGER, urge leaders “to commit to doing everything in their power” to promote the facilitation of crew changes by EU Member States and third countries so that they can take place without further delays.

As a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions and border closures, hundreds of thousands of seafarers are stranded around the world. Over 250,000 seafarers are currently waiting for crew changes on ships, with some of them having already spent 15 months or more on board. An equal number are awaiting to join ships.

In addition to the immense pressure this situation creates for individual seafarers, this is also a time of considerable difficulty for global and national economies. Ensuring crew changes can take place in EU ports without any impediment should be seen strategically as part of the broader recovery plan for European industries, according to the abovementioned partners.

Specifically, they argue that the EU is “uniquely placed” to make a difference and call on all governments to lead by example by, without further delay:

• Designating all seafarers, regardless of nationality, as key workers and facilitate their movement under conditions that safeguard their health and minimize the risks of COVID-19 infection. E.g. exempt them from travel restrictions including quarantine requirements provided the correct protocols are followed.

• Ensuring that seafarers are able to join and leave their ships for repatriation, crew changes, shore leave and medical attention without impediment. For example, temporary visa waivers for on/offsigners in all EU Schengen States would be essential to deal with the backlog of crew changes and high demand for visas expected over the coming months given the current logistical complexities for visas in EU missions and at the border.

• Creating the necessary conditions for seafarer air corridors from the EU Member States and key labour supply countries.

They call upon the decision makers in EU institutions and Member States to use the upcoming high level meetings in European Parliament, Council and European Council and the UK led crew change summit to show their political responsibility and be of service to the many seafarers who have served the world over the past months.

Joint letters were sent to the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen; President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli; President of the European Council, Charles Michel; and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel as current President of the Council of the European Union, and several European Members of Parliament and Member States.