September 2020
Standardising and harmonising electronic ship/shore communication for reporting purposes is high on the agenda at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) virtual Facilitation Committee (FAL) meeting next week (FAL 44).
August 2020
With the future of crewing high on the agenda, BIMCO and ICS are preparing for the launch of the latest Seafarer Workforce Report (previously known as the Manpower Report), the industry standard resource for ship operators, agencies and governments seeking the market intelligence they need to develop crewing and training strategies fit for the future.
The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has announced a temporary measure - a remote inspection regime - as an additional tool within its Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) programme. This temporary measure has been developed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between an inspector and ships’ crew.
BIMCO and Safety at Sea will be hosting an engaging and informative webinar on 11 August that will include the results of their Maritime Cyber Security survey to inform briefings and discussions among maritime experts.
July 2020
The global summit hosted by the UK Government on 9 July 2020 on the impact of COVID-19 on crew changes was attended by just fifteen countries. Thirteen pledged to take action to help cut through bureaucratic red tape preventing crew changes, which is a step in the right direction.
The waters in and around the Straits of Malacca and Singapore can pose various risks to ships, one of which is conducting activities outside designated areas, if the ship is not simply transiting continuously and expeditiously.
An industry-wide survey calling on seafarers and shore-staff to share their Covid-19 workforce insights has been launched by Lloyd’s Register and marine industry partners to understand how the pandemic has affected, and continues to affect the industry and the health and mental wellbeing of its employees.
June 2020
BIMCO is joining the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in a call to encourage shipping companies or masters to fill in a Crew Change Report Form launched by ICS and thereby help encouraging Governments to facilitate crew change throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 crisis has painfully demonstrated the heterogeneous landscape that currently exists across ports worldwide. With the world’s attention now focused on exiting from lockdowns and preparing for a ‘new normal’, there is an urgent need to co-operate and accelerate the pace of digitalisation, according to a number of leading maritime associations, including BIMCO.
May 2020
The heads of the maritime, labour and aviation organizations of the United Nations have issued a plea for urgent action on crew changes and for keyworker designation to pave the way for sea and air workers to be relieved and repatriated safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.