PSA International joins global efforts to solve crew-change crisis, support vaccine distribution

Published Tue, Jan 26, 2021 · 06:51 PM

PSA International announced on Tuesday that it has joined international efforts to push back against Covid-19, having signed the Neptune Declaration for Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change, and supported Unicef (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) to distribute Covid-19 vaccines under the Covax programme.

The Neptune Declaration defines actions to facilitate crew changes and keep global supply chains functioning, and declares seafarers as being recognised as key workers eligible for priority access to Covid-19 vaccines.

This comes as one of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented crew-change crisis, impacting hundreds of thousands of seafarers, whose physical and mental wellbeing are compromised by long periods at sea. As the frontliners of the maritime industry carrying 90 per cent of global trade, they play an important role in the safety and integrity of maritime supply chains.

PSA has also made a commitment to enable the safe, sustainable and globally inclusive distribution of Covid-19 vaccines through signing the World Economic Forum (WEF) Supply Chain & Transport Industry Charter in support of Unicef and Covax Vaccine Distribution.

As a signatory to the WEF and Unicef Charter, PSA will offer access to its global infrastructure, logistics knowledge and expertise, as well as on-the-ground assistance in supply-chain operations.

Tan Chong Meng, Group chief executive of PSA International, said: "In our interconnected and interdependent world, multi-stakeholder collaboration and action are key. PSA stands alongside our industry partners and stakeholders as we commit to ensuring the well-being of the seafarers in our spheres of influence, and to do our part to enable the globally inclusive, safe and sustainable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines."