Network could offer a short-term solution to  barriers presented by global travel restrictions

Jamaica’s maritime regulator, the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ), is proposing that the implementation of a global network of crew change hubs would help alleviate the humanitarian crisis seafarers face at present.

In making the proposal, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Peter Brady, director general of the MAJ, argued that this global network could offer a short-term solution to the barriers presented by global travel restrictions, thus ensuring vital crew changes could take place and facilitate trade and logistics to the benefit of the world economy.

Brady cited the example of several smaller territories still have not re-opened their borders, “so no one is coming in and no one is going out”.

But with a hub, he argued, seafarers would be able to move and to move more freely.

“Some natural crew change hubs already exist pre-COVID-19, by virtue of the concentration of shipping, and we suggest that more could be developed to deal with the current stagnation of crew travel in parts of the world,” Brady contended.

He made the point that whether they are then retained in the long term would be subject to global strategy and based on assessment by industry of their costs and benefits. 

In making out his case for the development of the hub, Brady opined that there has been much uncertainty regarding the spread of COVID-19, coupled with a lack of information on the control of the pandemic, and this has increased the reluctance of states to open their borders.

Some states slowly reopening their borders

With urging from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other organisations responsible for the welfare of seafarers, and thanks to the development of international protocols, the retired Jamaican naval officer indicated that some states are slowly looking to reopen their borders.

He emphasised the importance of putting seafarer welfare at the forefront of international maritime efforts.

According to Brady, who is also a former chair of the IMO’s STCW Committee, “the pandemic has highlighted that seafarers are the backbone of the global supply chain and that crew retention is even more critical to the continuation of world trade”

He said crew retention can be tackled by more port state and flag State administrations taking stronger positions on ensuring that living and working conditions onboard ships meet the international standards and by designating crew as essential workers with the attendant privileges.

The MAJ boss noted that a future challenge will be motivating seafarers to continue this career in light of the crises and hardships they have endured during the pandemic.

He was adamant that the industry and individual companies must take steps to address crew retention by improving and increasing welfare benefits to seafarers onboard.

In response to the pandemic, he proposes that, “flag states have needed to be agile and adapt their regulations and methods of operating, in order to keep shipping lines open and enable world trade to continue”.

This is in addition to putting in place measures to support seafarers.

In the case of Jamaica, he noted that where the circumstances warrant, there is mutual agreement between the owner and the seafarer.