Merchant Shipping: Coronavirus

(asked on 24th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the crewing of merchant ships on the (a) UK, (b) Red Ensign Group and (c) Flag of Convenience shipping registers during the covid-19 pandemic.


Answered by
Kelly Tolhurst Portrait
Kelly Tolhurst
This question was answered on 27th April 2020

These matters are flag blind, I wrote to the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization on 23rd March stating that as a port state the UK will continue to recognise its international obligations and allow seafarers to transit and transfer in the UK and to access shore leave.

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

As the flag state authority, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has made specific measures in regard certification and employment to aid shipowners and seafarers with crewing arrangements.

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