Accessibility.SkipToMainContent
Health and safety

Nautilus urges Member States to follow new IMO guidance on crew changes and repatriation

1 April 2020

Nautilus has urged all International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States to follow new guidance on crew changes and repatriation during the Covid-10 pandemic.

The union, which represents 20,000 maritime professionals in the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland, welcomed the guidance on facilitating crew changes in ports and echoed IMO secretary general Kitack Lim's comments regarding the importance of remembering the seafarers on the front line.

'It is now incumbent on administrations to effectively implement this guidance as the UK have committed to doing,' Nautilus professional and technical officer David Appleton said.

The United Kingdom committed to facilitating the return of UK seafarers and repatriation of foreign seafarers on March 25.

The union urged particular attention be paid to procedures for joining crew. While the guidance refers to effective screening and protocols for seafarers embarking ships, the crew already onboard must also be protected.

Member States must do everything possible to ensure the availability of accurate testing kits and make seafarers among the high priority groups when these are distributed.

The list of recommendations for Governments and relevant national authorities published by IMO on 27 March includes measures to facilitate crew changes in ports, measures to ensure health protection in ports and measures to facilitate port (and related) operations. (Download the PDF) .

Nautilus members who are concerned or are experiencing difficulties related to the coronavirus outbreak are advised to contact their industrial organiser for assistance. In an emergency members can also contact the Nautilus 24/7 helpline.

More Nautilus assistance and our coronavirus resource hub can be found on our Assistance page.

 


Tags

More articles

Featured
Health and safety

Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus

  • Telegraph
  • 17 March 2021
Nautilus news

General secretary outlines key priorities for Nautilus members on Tapiit Live TV

Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson has outlined the Union's key priorities for 2020, which focus on jobs and training for members, alongside the core industrial work it does to support members and agree collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with owners.

  • News
  • 01 April 2020
Health and safety

New maritime security guidance for mariners operating off West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea

New maritime anti-piracy guidance has been created for seafarers operating off West Africa amid increased attacks in what are already extraordinary global conditions for cargo and container crew keyworkers.

  • News
  • 01 April 2020
International

Union welcomes easing of Singapore crew change restrictions

Nautilus has welcomed news that Singapore has adopted a more pragmatic approach to crew changes on cargo vessels after pressure by unions and the maritime industry.

  • News
  • 01 April 2020
Welfare

Sailors' Society issues seafarer welfare Covid-19 fundraising appeal

International maritime welfare charity the Sailors' Society has launched a suite of seafarer resources and a funding appeal to help it support the 'key workers of the sea' during the global Covid-19 pandemic.

  • News
  • 01 April 2020
Health and safety

Diamond Princess: crew will need long-term mental health support

Crew members on cruiseships involved in Covid-19 outbreaks will need long-term physical and mental health support, a medical expert has warned.

  • News
  • 01 April 2020
Health and safety

ILO calls for seafarer protection during Covid-19 pandemic

The International Labour Organisation has fired a warning shot to government and employers urging them to respect international labour standards for seafarers and to 'keep a human-centred approach' for all workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • News
  • 31 March 2020