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International Cooperation Department
Tel.: (+86-21) 65853850-8034
Fax: (+86-21) 65373125
E-mail: ICDept@sisi-smu.org
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International Shipping |
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| Asian Ship owners¡¯ Association seeks 'key worker' status for seamen |
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Date:2021-05-20 Readers:
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THE Singapore-based Asian Ship owners' Association (ASA) urged national governments to designate seafarers as "key workers" under UN Assembly Resolution A/75/L37 passed last November to facilitate crew changes worldwide.
"At the peak of the crew change crisis, 400,000 seafarers were stranded at sea. This figure has mercifully reduced to 200,000, but is still intolerable," said ASA insurance chairman Richard Hex, at the group's annual general meeting this week.
"It is especially disappointing to see cases of prominent ship charterers, including some who have publicly voiced support for seafarers, demanding the inclusion of 'no-crew change' clauses in their charterparties or voyage instructions," he said.
Said ASA seafarers chairman Han Chao: "Now is the time that the whole world recognises the importance of seafarers who are the unsung heroes always exposing themselves to all kind of adversities to make the world trade go round."
Mr Han urged all governments to implement the UN Resolution, thereby providing seafarers with access to Covid-19 vaccination at the earliest opportunity, respecting their fundamental rights under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC 2006).
The ASA also reaffirmed the need to urgently expand the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) to promote environmentally sound ship recycling.
"It is essential to continue motivating China and Bangladesh to sign up for this important convention and encourages the Asian shipowners to promote usage of HKC compliant yards," said ASA ship recycling chairman Ron Huang.
The ASA also urged the UN International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to lead global decarbonisation of the industry.
A projected UN committee, called the International Maritime Research and Development Board (IMRB), is expected to provide up to US$6 billion to identify, develop and demonstrate fuels to decarbonise shipping in line with Paris Accord targets.
Said ASA environmental chairwoman Caroline Yang: "ASA hopes that IMO member states and other stakeholders will also bring to the table concrete proposals for possible market based measures that we can consider in parallel with discussions on the IMRB."
https://www.shippingazette.com/menu.asp?encode=eng
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