Today, 30 September, is World Maritime Day. On this day the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (a specialized agency of the UN) celebrate the contributions of the world’s maritime industries.
This year’s theme is “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”.
“Shipping drives world trade and that trade simply does not happen without seafarers. While the challenges of automation and digitalization – not to mention decarbonization – will drive change in shipping, we will always need well-trained and motivated seafarers. We must ensure a diverse and expert workforce for the ships of the twenty-first century and beyond,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.
COVID-19 has placed extraordinary demands on seafarers, with hundreds of thousands of men and women stranded on ships for months beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated due to national travel restrictions. A similar number of seafarers are unable to join ships and earn a living. This crew change crisis, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, is a humanitarian emergency that threatens the safety of shipping.
The IMO has called for all countries to designate seafarers as key workers, as outlined in the UN General Assembly Resolution adopted in December. Only 50 IMO member states have done so.
“We need more Governments to step up. Key worker designation is crucial to ensure prioritization for vaccination. Once again, I strongly urge Governments to designate seafarers as key workers,” Mr Lim said.
Joining him in this call is the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
“I renew my appeal to Governments to address their plight by formally designating seafarers and other marine personnel as “key workers”, ensuring safe crew changes, implementing established protocols, and allowing stranded seafarers to be repatriated and others to join ships,” Mr Guterres said.
Australia is particularly reliant on seafarers, much more so than many other nations. While the UN estimates that about 80% of all world trade is moved by sea, because Australia is an island continent, about 99.92% of all of Australia’s trade in goods and commodities is moved by sea. About 84% by value of all of our goods and commodities are moved by sea.
On the grounds of compassion, Australia should recognise that seafarers are key workers. On the grounds of expressing our gratitude, Australia should recognise that seafarers are key workers. On the grounds of protecting our own vital interests, Australia should recognise that seafarers are key workers.
Shipping Australia CEO Captain Melwyn Noronha commented: “seafarers have been the backbone of world trade during the COVID crisis and have kept goods moving in the supply chain. We owe seafarers a debt of gratitude and compassion. It’s about about time that some governments, and their agencies, which portray all care and no responsibility, start acting to support and protect seafarers. Making sure all seafarers who call in Australia have the opportunity to receive a COVID vaccine would be a great start”.
Throughout the year, the World Maritime Theme will also put the spotlight on other issues related to the human element of shipping, including the safety and security of life on board ships, seafarers’ well-being, and the importance of ensuring an appropriately trained and qualified workforce, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of digitalization and automation.
