A great deal has changed since March, when the International Chamber of Shipping first issued guidance for the global shipping industry to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Whilst deaths, and indeed infection rates on ships stand at almost nothing in comparison, seafarers face the same risks as the general population and it is important to recognise that following health guidelines is essential to maintain this situation.
30 September 2020
Press Release
The ability of flag state authorities to conduct statutory surveys, and for ships (and seafarers) to be issued with required certification to allow them to continue to trade, emerged as a serious issue at the very start of the pandemic.
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Maintaining the health of seafarers and protecting them from infection remains a critical priority.
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The continuing inability of ship operators to conduct crew changes has been the single greatest operational challenge confronting the global shipping industry since the Second World War.
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The arrival of COVID-19 has presented truly enormous challenges for the entire maritime transport sector, an industry responsible for moving about 90% of global trade.
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ICS continues to work hard to develop partnerships with key players in the industry, law enforcement, and administrations to raise awareness as to the threat of drug trafficking on merchant ships and ensure adequate preparation in case of arrest or ship detention due to the smuggling of illegal narcotics by sea.
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ICS, the International Chamber of Shipping, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are calling for the immediate disembarkation of 27 rescued people trapped onboard a cargo ship. The distraught group, including one child and a pregnant woman, have now been onboard the Maersk Etienne for more than one month.
7 September 2020
Press Release
A significant part of ICS resources is dedicated to representing the global industry on a range of complex technical issues covered by the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO’s 174 Member States, and its numerous technical Sub Committees and Correspondence Groups.
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Despite the lack of media attention due to COVID-19, the migrant rescue at sea crisis in the Mediterranean is far from over, with tens of thousands of migrants still attempting to make the dangerous sea crossing from Africa to Europe in overcrowded and unseaworthy craft.
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Piracy is a persistent threat to the shipping industry and remains a point of concern across the world’s oceans. In the years since the height of the 2008 piracy crisis, a consistent international effort has successfully lowered the frequency of piracy attacks in previously high-risk regions. ICS believes that continued cross-stakeholder coordination is critical to effective risk-management and response during incidences of piracy.
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