The international shipping industry has warned of a threat to global trade from a mounting crisis on board merchant vessels, with up to 400,000 crew stranded either at sea or at home by travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a ticking time-bomb,” said Guy Platten, secretary-general of the International Chamber of Shipping, representing ship owners and operators. “You cannot keep working people indefinitely. Some have been on their ship for more than a year. The longer this issue goes on the greater risk to the supply chain.”
Last month, the International Maritime Organization published a 12-step protocol for safe crew changes. But governments have been slow to implement them and the number of crew stranded at sea was rising on a weekly basis, Platten said. Maersk, operator of the world’s largest container ship fleet, said authorities needed to move quickly.
Not only was this a pressing humanitarian issue, he said, but the smooth operation of the global merchant fleet was a crucial factor in the recovery of the world economy. Britain is “a great maritime nation. We must take the lead,” Lord Sterling said.
are they all made in China or what? 😏