September 26 ------ The IMO and the global maritime community come together to celebrate the annual World Maritime Day. The 2020 theme is Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet. The topic is in line with the industry-wide efforts pushing to save fuel, and develop green energy sources as they work to decarbonize shipping. However, the year has been completely overshadowed by the impact of COVID-19 on the industry and, especially on the seafarers, who are facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the industry. More than 300,000 seafarers are currently stranded on ships, with some now having been working for more than 17 months at sea, without a break. A further 300,000 workers are unable to join ships and potentially face unemployment due to Government-imposed travel restrictions and quarantine measures in different parts of the world.
“World Maritime Day is today recognizing the invaluable efforts of millions of seafarers, dockers, ferry and port workers to keep global supply chains operating during the COVID-19 pandemic, while highlighting the plight of hundreds of thousands seafarers who have been unable to return home to their families due to the crisis,” the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said. MUA national secretary and International Transport Workers’ Federation president Paddy Crumlin said this year had demonstrated the absolutely essential work of seafarers and dockers, who are ensuring vital medical supplies and essential household goods continue to arrive in Australia.
“This invisible workforce responsible for keeping our island nation operating now faces their own crisis, with hundreds of thousands stuck onboard ships, in some cases for up to 18 months, unable to return to their families due to border closures and a lack of government efforts to repatriate them. “The Australian Government must do more to address this humanitarian crisis by facilitating the movement of international seafarers through the country so crew changes can once again take place.” Crumlin added World Maritime Day also highlights the need to revitalize Australia’s shipping industry by creating a strategic fleet of Australian-flagged vessels crewed by Australian workers. This way the sector can improve its self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on foreign workforce and global shocks.
The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) echoed the sentiment, calling on the EU to be the leading force in urgent action towards social and environmental sustainability. In an open letter, maritime sections representing seafarers, fishers, and port workers, pointed to systematic issues that are hurting the environment and endangering seafarers. These included the use of flags of convenience, lack of climate-proof infrastructure, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. “This year has really crystalized the negative effects of these issues,” said Estelle Brentnall, ETF Head of Maritime.
“With a global pandemic, we saw what happens in a world where maritime traffic is guided by lowest standards possible, and where fishing inspections are few and far between. And the additional burden of increasingly severe weather events made the urgent need to act ever more clearly.” ETF said the smart and sustainable mobility strategy, about to be addressed by the European Commission, represents an excellent opportunity for the EU to make effective change.
Source: offshore-energy.biz