IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has welcomed the WHO’s decision to name seafarers as one of the groups of transportation workers that should be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination in instances of limited supplies.
The Day of the Seafarer, held on 25 June every year, draws global attention to the contribution that seafarers make to world trade.
To support the need to vaccinate seafarers against the coronavirus, ships will sound horns at ports on 25th June, the Day of the seafarer.
ICS, along with industry and social partners, are encouraging ships in ports around the world to sound their horns at 12 noon local time on 25th June, in honour of the IMO’s ‘Day of the Seafarer’, to remind the world of the urgent need to vaccinate all seafarers.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has called on all IMO Member States to support fair global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, beyond fulfilling their national needs, to ensure seafarers can access vaccines.
Shipowners and seafarers’ representatives have asked the United Nations to establish an interagency task force to examine the implementation and practical application of the MLC, 2006 during the pandemic, including its impact on seafarers’ fundamental rights and on the shipping industry.
The world’s seafarers yesterday took the extraordinary decision to shut down negotiations over the future of seafarers’ minimum wages with national shipowners represented by the International Chamber of Shipping.
The latest Seafarers Happiness Index report, published by The Mission to Seafarers, reveals that small investments can make a tangible difference to the lives of seafarers.
In a landmark ruling the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Committee of Experts has sent a strong message to governments that they have failed in their duty of care towards seafarers under international law during the COVID-19 pandemic.