Skip to content

Joint IOGP-IPIECA position on COVID-19 vaccines

The IOGP-IPIECA joint Health Committee has followed the development, rollout, and real-world efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines since they became available in late 2020.This document aims to help companies understand vaccine efficacy and provides guidance for company policy development aimed at achieving high rates of vaccination amongst staff.View in the IOGP Publications Library View document

Singapore To Provide Vaccination To Limited Seafarers

31 August, 2021The island nation of Singapore would now be providing jabs to a select number of crew-members onboard ships. A limited vaccination programme would be rolled out in the country, which would be providing Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to non-resident foreign seafarers.Being one of the most active port nations in the world, the country has already vaccinated more than 90% of it’s own seafaring workforce.The vaccines would be available to seafarers, irrespective of their nationalities, who meet with any of these eligibility criterions:Their stay in Singapore is for more than thirty days.Their ships are under repair in shipyardsCrew

Denmark starts offering vaccines to seafarers

30 August, 2021The Danish government has just announced that it will start offering vaccines for seafarers calling Danish ports or transiting Danish airports, becoming the latest European nation to prioritise seafarers of all nationalities for a Covid jab. Denmark will be offering one-shot Johnson & Johnson jabs.Commenting on the news, Jacob Meldgaard, the CEO of Danish shipowner Torm, said: “Offering Covid-19 vaccines for seafarers is immensely important, as it enables them to sign on vessels anywhere in the world. Many seafarers are from countries where vaccines are still in short supply, so this is indeed an important step for shipping

Latest list of locations for COVID-19 Vaccinations for Seafarers

The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) publishes information on their website of locations/contacts to help seafarers and offshore workers gain access to COVID-19 vaccinations. Like IMCA, the ICMA is a signatory to the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing, which supports all efforts to “recognise seafarers as key workers and give them priority access to COVID-19 vaccines.” View list Neptune Declaration

Support the data collection exercise on vaccination of Seafarers

Data is being collated on behalf of ICS, BIMCO, CLIA, ECSA, ICMA, IMCA, IMEC, IMHA, INTERCARGO, InterManager, INTERTANKO, ISOA, ITF and WSC.We are seeking input into the vaccination of seafarers. At present, information available is limited which hinders lobbying efforts as the industry is currently unaware of where significant gaps exist. To aid this process, we are undertaking a concerted and joint effort to gather as much information as possible from the questionnaire below. Each company is requested to complete this exercise once. Once we have collated the information, gaps and issues highlighted will be targeted. We would greatly appreciate

Belgium starts seafarer vaccination

Belgium has officially started its vaccination campaign for seafarers this morning in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea, Vincent Van Quickenborne. Read the article

IMO supports industry’s Roadmap for Vaccination of Seafarers

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) encourages a wide dissemination of the industry developed Roadmap for Vaccination of Seafarers. The document, prepared and launched by ICS and supported by a broad cross section of global industry associations representing the maritime transportation sector, i.e. IAPH, IACS, INTERTANKO, InterManager, IMCA, IHMA and ITF, and also by the European Community Shipowners’ Association, the Singapore Shipping Association and the Swiss Shipowners Association.The Roadmap sets out procedures for a programme that can be implemented by all stakeholders concerned to facilitate safe ship crew vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be used by

IMO launches #FairFuture4Seafarers as part of 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign – 25 June

Secretary General Kitack Lim, International Maritime Organization has recently launched this year’s campaign to recognise the importance of seafarers as key workers.2021 campaign – Fair Future for SeafarersIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers found themselves both on the front line of the global response and subject to difficult working conditions surrounding uncertainties and difficulties around port access, re-supply, crew changeovers, repatriation, etc.In light of this, the 2020 Day of the Seafarer campaign focused its message around urging governments to recognize seafarers as key workers and ease travel restrictions for them to facilitate crew changes.The 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign will continue

IMO Secretary General urges fair vaccine distribution for Seafarers

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has called on all IMO Member States to support a fair global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, beyond fulfilling their national needs, to ensure seafarers can access vaccines.  In a statement, Mr Lim reiterated his call for seafarers and marine personnel to be designated as “key workers” and noted that some key maritime labour supply countries are reliant on the COVAX initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to access vaccines.  Read the full post at the IMO website: IMO Statement

Vaccination of French Sailors: Priority Access Granted

Following numerous awareness-raising efforts by maritime professionals, the French government included, at the beginning of May, sailors in the public priority for vaccination.This prioritization includes French sailors of the merchant navy and the great fishing, without any age limitation. They will now be able to contact a vaccination centre by checking the box reserved for health professionals.Neptune’s Declaration “for the Well-being of Seafarers and Crew Relievers”: A New IndicatorAs part of the Neptune Declaration, signed by more than 800 companies and organizations including Armateurs de France, the Global Maritime Forum stresses the need to work together to resolve the crew

Roadmap for vaccination of International Seafarers

Through its active involvement with an industry-led Vaccination Taskforce, IMCA has helped develop a roadmap which sets out procedures for a programme that can be implemented by all stakeholders concerned to facilitate safe ship crew vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. It can be used by shipping companies (their agents and representatives, including crew agencies), maritime administrations and national health authorities, in liaison with other authorities (such as local customs, immigration, border control, seaport and civil aviation) and seafarers, during the planning and roll-out stages of the vaccination programme)”. View Roadmap

Belgium gives green light to priority vaccination for seafarers

The Belgian government has agreed to prioritise Covid-19 vaccines for seafarers on its vessels. Work will now begin on introducing the scheme “soon”, according to the Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association (RBSA), which told TradeWinds this is the first such scheme in the world.The association said it was pleased with the decision after crews’ special circumstances were taken into account.“I believe this is a very important step for the seafarers who have shown such resilience and commitment over the last year, despite having to stay on board their ships for long periods,” RBSA managing director Wilfried Lemmens told TradeWinds.“The government listened

The Netherlands launches vaccination programme for seafarers

The Royal Association of Shipowners in the Netherlands will launch a vaccination programme for seafarers from mid-June. All seafarers working on seagoing vessels flying the Dutch flag or managed from the Netherlands are eligible for this COVID-19 vaccination programme that will be coordinated by the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR). Thanks to this programme, seafarers can safely continue their work on board seagoing vessels around the world. Some title