World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidance to protect seafarers working on cargo ships and fishing vessels during the epidemic,
The document was published to guide all shipowners, seafarers, unions and associations for health and transportation in protecting seafarers working on cargo ships and fishing vessels during the epidemic.
Seafarers work in close contact environments where COVID-19 is easy to transmit. Seafarers In some cases, take long voyages without visiting any port for long periods. An outbreak on a ship is a concern for the safety of the crew and can affect the crew’s ability to operate and operate safely on board.
Following the above, WHO recommends shipowners develop a written emergency plan that includes surveillance and reporting. Case Management, cleaning and disinfection, communication and training.
According to the document published by the World Health Organization, the general protective measures that the maritime industry should take against the corona virus are as follows;
- Minimize the number of non-crew members boarding and ensure that shore personnel only move to authorized areas.
- Coastal personnel should use outside walkways rather than enter the crew’s social areas.
- Crew members must maintain social distance and stay at least 1 m from shore personnel.
- Hand hygiene stations, such as hand washing facilities and alcohol-based hand sanitizers, should be located in prominent locations around the ship and accessible to all personnel.
- Crew members should wear masks where the physical distance is short.
- In accordance with the IHR (2005), the ship’s captain or captain must promptly notify the competent health authority at the next port of call of suspected COVID-19 cases.
Moreover, WHO focused on the use of the mask when explaining when and where personal protective masks are recommended for use by ship crew and shore personnel in different working areas on board.
