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IATA, ICS urge governments to enable stranded crew to return home
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2020/04/25 09:50:57
THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) are jointly urging governments to implement urgent measures to facilitate crew change flights for seafarers, who have been forced to remain aboard ships after many months at sea already due to Coronavirus restrictions.
Each month 100,000 merchant seafarers need to be changed over from the ships on which they operate to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations protecting safety, health and welfare.
As a result of government-imposed travel restrictions due to Covid-19, flights to repatriate or position marine personnel are unavailable. Immigration and health screening protocols are also hampering the ability of merchant ships to conduct vitally necessary crew changes.
IATA and ICS are working together to propose safe and pragmatic solutions that governments can implement to facilitate crew changes at certain airports.FAXTEXT = "Seafarers are unsung heroes who everyday throughout this Covid-19 crisis are going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that countries are kept supplied with the goods they need. We are working with the airlines to come forward with solutions.
"We now need governments to support our seafarers and facilitate safe passage for them to get home to loved ones and be replaced by crew members ready to keep supply chains open," said ICS secretary general Guy Platten.
"Airlines have been required to cut passenger services in the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19. But if Governments identify airports that seafarers can use for crew changes and make appropriate adjustments to current health and immigration protocols, airlines can help keep global logistics moving," said IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac.
ICS and IATA are calling on all governments to designate a specific and limited number of crew change airports for the safe movement and repatriation of crew. This would achieve critical mass for the resumption of crew change flights to these airports, keeping global supply chains open.
Priority airports should include those close to major shipping lanes which also have direct air connections to principal seafarer countries of residence, such as China, India and the Philippines as well as destinations in western and eastern Europe.
Each month 100,000 merchant seafarers need to be changed over from the ships on which they operate to ensure compliance with international maritime regulations protecting safety, health and welfare.
As a result of government-imposed travel restrictions due to Covid-19, flights to repatriate or position marine personnel are unavailable. Immigration and health screening protocols are also hampering the ability of merchant ships to conduct vitally necessary crew changes.
IATA and ICS are working together to propose safe and pragmatic solutions that governments can implement to facilitate crew changes at certain airports.FAXTEXT = "Seafarers are unsung heroes who everyday throughout this Covid-19 crisis are going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that countries are kept supplied with the goods they need. We are working with the airlines to come forward with solutions.
"We now need governments to support our seafarers and facilitate safe passage for them to get home to loved ones and be replaced by crew members ready to keep supply chains open," said ICS secretary general Guy Platten.
"Airlines have been required to cut passenger services in the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19. But if Governments identify airports that seafarers can use for crew changes and make appropriate adjustments to current health and immigration protocols, airlines can help keep global logistics moving," said IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac.
ICS and IATA are calling on all governments to designate a specific and limited number of crew change airports for the safe movement and repatriation of crew. This would achieve critical mass for the resumption of crew change flights to these airports, keeping global supply chains open.
Priority airports should include those close to major shipping lanes which also have direct air connections to principal seafarer countries of residence, such as China, India and the Philippines as well as destinations in western and eastern Europe.