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Written question asked by Karl Turner (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 April 2020. It was answered by Kelly Tolhurst (Conservative) on Monday, 27 April 2020 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Merchant Shipping: Coronavirus

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect that restrictions on the international aviation industry in response to the pandemic covid-19 pandemic are having on the ability of the merchant shipping industry to ensure that merchant seafarers in the (a) UK and (b) international shipping industry can return home at the end of their contracted voyage in line with (i) the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 and (ii) Regulation 2.5 of the Maritime Labour Convention.

Answer

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has been very clear that the pandemic does not remove the duty of care that ship operators have to their seafarers.

I wrote to the UN agencies on 23rd March setting out the UK will continue to permit seafarers to transit and transfer in the UK and access to shore leave. This letter was shared with all state parties to the agencies. The ILO and the International Maritime Organization have also issued guidance to all state parties to recognise seafarers as key workers and to remind states of their obligations under international maritime law to facilitate the movement of seafarers and to allow seafarers to be repatriated.

I have spoken with Lord Ahmad (Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) regarding specific issues with the repatriation of seafarers.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
34343
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Aviation Crew Merchant shipping Maritime Labour Convention Coronavirus
Legislation
Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk