The heads of five UN organizations have called for maritime and air transport workers to be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination, given their key role in supporting global trade and mobility.
IMO
and partner have launched the Women in Maritime Survey to examine the distribution of women working in the maritime sector, from support roles to executive level positions.
Most days, driving through the upmarket northern Johannesburg suburb of Illovo, you鈥檙e likely to see him sitting in his wheelchair at a traffic light on Corlett Drive. On Sundays, he鈥檒l be sitting a block away on the traffic circle on North Street. For him, it鈥檚 about making enough money to survive another day. And for most of his adult life, that is exactly what Admire Makondo, 40, has been doing 鈥 surviving. Some days he鈥檒l be sitting by himself, on other days a tall, wiry man will be with him, hovering in the background. This is Makondo鈥檚 friend, 鈥渂rother鈥 and roommate, Bhekani Ncube, 36. The two have been inseparable since meeting in the town of Musina in Limpopo more than a decade ago, each playing their part in looking after the other.
The course in the Philippines introduced participants to the key features of marine biology and environmental impacts of invasive species.
A humanitarian crisis is taking place at sea and urgent action is needed to protect seafarers鈥 health and ensure the safety of shipping, warns . It is estimated that more than 300,000 seafarers and marine personnel are currently stranded at sea and unable to be repatriated despite the expiry of their contracts. A similar number of seafarers have been unable to join ships and relieve them. This is due to restrictions imposed by several governments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Helping mitigate the impacts of an oil spill in Mauritius
Seafarers are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing an essential role in maintaining the flow of vital goods, such as food, medicines and medical supplies. However, the crisis has led to difficult working conditions for seafarers. This year, the Day of the Seafarer campaign calls on Member States to recognize seafarers as key workers 鈥 and to provide them with the support, assistance and travel options open to all key workers during the pandemic.
When a 45-year-old Russian seafarer aboard a large cargo ship began to show signs of suffering a stroke, in mid-April, the ship鈥檚 captain was immediately alerted. Global Voyager Assistance, a remote medical assistance provider, confirmed the stroke diagnosis. But the ship was more than 220 km from the nearest port, and the port authorities rejected initial appeals for emergency medical assistance, due to COVID-19 restrictions in place. Despite repeated requests from the vessel鈥檚 captain, the seafarer鈥檚 national trade union and that of the country the ship was headed for, the ship could not enter port. The International Transport Workers鈥 Federation (ITF) called on two UN agencies, the International Maritime Organization () and the International Labour Organization (), to intervene urgently.
鈥淵ou are not alone鈥澛
The Women's International Shipping and Trading Association Limited () and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting greater diversity and inclusion through enhanced cooperation activities in the maritime field. These activities will lay the groundwork for further discussion on how a diverse workforce will be essential for a sustainable future.