An urgent call from Shipmasters Has the Merchant Shipping industry and its seafarers been forgotten?
This open letter is from The International Federation of Shipmasters Associations (IFSMA)
To all Governments,
Unprecedented times: These are indeed unprecedented times and the maritime industry has been dealt a very serious strategic shock as nations around the world have closed their boarders and stopped the free flow of traffic and people. We are in very rough seas and it is wreaking havoc across the industry with very serious consequences. IFSMA very much appreciate the significant work and leadership put in by the IMO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), supported by others, as we all try to find ways to calm the seas and to return to some form of (new) normality for our seafarers. In a joint open letter from the and ITF on the 7 April 2020, entitled “Message To G20 Leaders and Ministers on Facilitating Essential Movement of Seafarers and Marine Personnel”. They quoted key statements made by the G20 trade and investment ministers from their meeting on the 30. March highlighting that: they would ensure the smooth and continued operation of the logistics networks that serve as the backbone of global supply chains. They further stated they would explore ways for logistics networks via air, sea and land freight to remain open. Despite this, it appears that little has been done by the G20 and Governments to find ways to make this happen. Despite this continued efforts of the Secretary General of the IMO, Mr Kitack Lim. Has the merchant shipping industry and its seafarers been forgone?
Today there are over 96,000 vessels and more than 1.65 million seafarers at sea around the world ensuring the movement of 95% of the world’s trade and critical good arrive where they are needed to supply our demanding populations. Most of these seafarers are serving at sea for between 8 and 12 months, working for 7 days and up to 91 hours each and every week. They have been designated by the IMO, ILO, G20 and most Governments as “Key Workers.’ In this critical time and yet, because of the pandemic and the worldwide restrictions on the movement of people, ship-owners and management companies are facing significant immovable barriers, put in place by governments, in trying to changeover their crews leaving many seafarers significantly overrunning the original length of the terms of their contract of employment. Indeed, increasing numbers of seafarers are several months over their contracted times and have been at sea for up to 15 months. Currently it is estimated that there are in excess of 150,000 seafarers at sea, or in ports around the world that are in urgent need of being relieved by refreshed crew. This number will only increase week by week unless Governments act to allow crew changes to take place.
Seafarer’s contracts vary in length across the industry, but the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention stipulates a minimum of 2.5 days holiday for each month served at sea which has to be taken within any one year. Many of our Seafarers are now suffering from fatigue, not only from the excessive length of time they have spent at sea but also with the additional stress they are under from worrying about their family and relatives at home and the effect the pandemic is having on them — not all seafarers have access to the internet at sea and ports as pandemic regulations forbid seafarers accessing facilities ashore, even for acute medical emergency reasons. It must be remembered that the pandemic is not “Force Majeure”, shipmasters and their crews remain subject to normal contractual conditions and in accordance with the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention
Under international maritime regulations the ship-owner/company shall ensure that their ships are manned with personnel that are medically fit and fit for duty. The shipmaster is responsible for the welfare and wellbeing of the crew on board and shall ensure that they are not exposed to conditions that could risk their health and safety. With a crew that is suffering from fatigue, ships are running a much higher level of risk in what is already a high risk profession. When errors are made on board ships it is often the shipmaster that is held responsible. Shipmasters have been forced into a situation which is not of their making and they feel pressurized to remain at sea for the safety of their crew. However, it is that very pressure and fatigue that is bearing down on them and that increases the risk of an accident occurring and significantly increases the risk of them being criminalized by the courts ashore and the loss of their livelihoods.
We urge all government to make a plan for crew change as soon as possible.
