IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim
Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is prompting “a practical and pragmatic approach, in these unusual times, to issues like crew changeovers, resupply, repairs, survey and certification and licensing of seafarers.”
“The spread of the coronavirus has placed the entire world in an unprecedented situation,” he claims in a video clip launched onYoutube “To reduce the spread of the illness and also reduce its effects, traveling is being reduced and also boundaries are being shut. Transport centers are being influenced. Ports are being shut and also ships rejected entrance.
“In these hard times, the capacity for delivery solutions and also seafarers to supply crucial products, consisting of clinical materials and also foods items, will certainly be main to replying to, and also at some point conquering this pandemic.
“It is, as a result, most importantly crucial that the circulation of business by sea ought to not be needlessly interfered with. At the very same time, the safety and security of life mixed-up and also security of the aquatic atmosphere should additionally continue to be extremely important.
“One of the objectives of the IMO, as mentioned in its Convention, is to make sure schedule of delivery solutions to the business of the globe, for the advantage of mankind. I prompt all IMO Member States to birth this in mind when mounting their plan choices when it come to the coronavirus. Defeating the infection should be the initial concern, however worldwide profession, in a risk-free, safe and secure and also eco-friendly way should have the ability to proceed, as well.
“We should additionally keep in mind the numerous hundreds of seafarers on ships. They are, unintentionally, on the cutting edge of this worldwide tragedy. Their professionalism and reliability makes certain that the products all of us require are provided– securely and also with marginal influence on our valuable atmosphere. These are individuals, generally much from house and also family members. Their very own wellness and also well-being is as crucial as that of any person else.
“Again, I prompt a functional and also practical strategy, in these uncommon times, to concerns like team transitions, resupply, repair work, study and also qualification and also licensing of seafarers.
“Together with our market companions and also coworkers in the World Health Organization, IMO has actually been creating and also providing sensible recommendations and also assistance on a selection of technological and also functional issues associated with the coronavirus. You can discover this on our internet site, and also we will certainly be upgrading this as suitable as the scenario creates.
” I will directly be launching a collection of conferences and also examinations with leaders from delivery, ports and also various other vital relevant fields to make sure that we can all much better recognize the concerns being dealt with and also establish reasonable, sensible and also unified services.
“I have spoken many times of our ‘voyage together.’ Never has the spirit of those words been more important than it is now.”
