Working together for shipping and seafarers makes sense

IN the past three years, the global shipping industry has had to cope with the challenges of, first, the covid pandemic and, second, the war in Ukraine.

While both had financial implications for shipowners, the problems were mainly faced by seafarers. The pandemic, for a while, made it almost impossible to change crews and thus allow seafarers to return home on leave. For a long time, crew changes were very difficult and a bureaucratic nightmare. These issues still have not entirely been solved.

Unions representing seafarers and maritime employer groups came together to work as effectively as they could to urge governments to recognise seafarers as “key workers” and facilitate their movement to and from ships. These efforts were not entirely successful as they ran against the politics of short-term national self-interest. But they made a significant difference.

A couple of weeks ago, the unions and employers announced the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) “to take forward the spirit of cooperation that marked the shipping industry’s joint efforts throughout the pandemic”.

They could have added that the MOU was also building on the massive amount of work done together, mainly behind the scenes, in the early weeks of the Ukraine war to rescue crews stranded in Black Sea ports.

The MOU’s signatories were the global union organisation International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC).

The signatories noted that the MOU is the “beginning of a process of deepening dialogue, with the signatory organisations hopeful that more partners would join the common cause in months and years to come”.

David Heindel, chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, said: “Even with all the chaotic stories of supply chain issues during the pandemic, seafarers kept the world supplied with food, fuel and medicines at a critical time. Because of seafarers and other key workers, we were able to beat back the worst of the crisis and begin the long road to economic and health recovery. However, in too many cases, crews had their international and national rights blindly disregarded by national governments.”

He added: “Our industry came together to advocate for seafarers during the crew change crisis, and we had important successes on their behalf. Now, we want to take that spirit of cooperation forward and apply it to new, shared challenges.”

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The MOU group’s priorities include lobbying governments on improving training and career pathways; pushing for better recognition of seafarers; and securing support for the measures recently proposed by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force.

ICS secretary-general Guy Platten said that chamber was confident the MOU will benefit both shipowners and seafarers. Enhancements include securing the clearer signals from regulators needed for investments in low and zero-carbon vessels, infrastructure and technologies.

“This MOU helps to take our important policy discussions to the next stage – industry action. Together, we are more effective at getting the practical commitments needed to drive decarbonisation,” he said

“This MOU is about showing seafarers, as much as anyone else, that our industry has not lost sight of what can be achieved on their behalf if we put aside small differences, stand back, and advocate together on crew’s behalf. In short: when it matters, shipping speaks as one.”

IMEC chairman Belal Ahmed also welcomed the memorandum. He said that maritime employers wanted to be involved with the training elements of Just Transition’s work – in particular engaging with governments, as they provide much of the world’s seafarer training and regulate important domestic qualification standards.

He added: “During the pandemic and crew change crisis, it was clear just how important national governments are – for our global industry and its global workforce. It was their decisions which determined if seafarers could be relieved and go home. States will be equally critical when it comes to formulating and resourcing the training systems of tomorrow. When we do have governments’ attention, we must make it count.

“Our industry faces a huge challenge to have our seafarers ready in time. Engineering, tech and manufacturing companies involved in introducing new machinery on board ships have a responsibility to join Just Transition efforts. The signing of this MOU sends a clear signal that these important maritime communities are once again engaged in the kind of dialogue that brings strength of voice and stability to our sector’s future.”

Just Transition’s plan was promoted at last week’s meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in London, as the UN’s key maritime body grappled with – among other things – setting a new carbon reduction target.

Despite that, there was a distinct sound of the tin being kicked further down the road. ICS’ Platten commented: “The shipping industry urgently needs clear market and regulatory signals to reduce the investment risk currently surrounding alternative energy sources and technologies.”

That appears to be an early indication that pushing the interests of shipping and seafarers will continue to be an uphill task. Working together makes sense – but the MOU is no silver bullet.