ICMA has added its voice of support to the maritime industry and labour groups that have signed the Neptune Declaration on Seafarers Well-being and Crew Change.
The declaration is a global call to action to address the ongoing crew change crisis focusing on concrete actions that can facilitate crew changes and keep vital global supply chains functioning.
It was developed by the Maritime Industry Crew Change Taskforce created as an outcome of the Global Maritime Forum’s 2020 Virtual High-Level Meeting. The taskforce is chaired by Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Networks Express, and Graham Westgarth, Chairman of V.Group, and brings together representatives of companies from across the maritime value chain as well as organizations including ICS, ITF, International Maritime Employers’ Council, the Global Maritime Forum and the World Economic Forum.
ICMA General Secretary, Dr. Jason Zuidema comments, “The pandemic has been an especially challenging time for seafarers. We need to boost the voice of those seafarers on board and at home who are struggling at this time.”
The Rev. Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers and current Chair of the ICMA Trustees, says, “ICMA and its members have been at the front-line in responding to the serious welfare impact on seafarers of the pandemic, and particularly of the consequent crew change crisis. We have also been pleased to work with the wider shipping industry in lobbying for the recognition of seafarers as key workers, and for an immediate resolution in relation to crew change. We are delighted to support the Neptune Declaration as part of that effort.”
The text of the declaration can be found below and here at globalmaritimeforum.org:
About ICMA: The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) is a free association of Christian not-for-profit organisations working for the welfare of seafarers around the world. Founded in 1969, ICMA currently represents more than 450 seafarers’ centres in approximately 125 countries. ICMA is registered as a Charity in England and Wales (charity number 1176633). For more information, contact ICMA General Secretary, Dr. Jason Zuidema, gensec@icma.as or visit ICMA at icma.as.
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