2019冠狀病毒全球大流行之下，海員作為全球供應鏈的關鍵角色，仍在背後默默付出。面對前所未有的艱辛及挑戰之下，國際海事組織將2021年定為海員行動之年。國際海事組織期望透過2021年世界海事主題“海員：航運未來的核心”提高大眾對海員的注意，了解海員現在及將來所發揮的寶貴作用。
因2019冠狀病毒全球大流行大眾開始對海員有所關注。因不同國家的旅遊限制，無數的男女船員即使已完成原定合同都只能被困在船上。同時亦有無數的船員因而無法上船接班。船員不能換班的情況持續近一年，如果情況嚴重下去將會變成人道主義危機，嚴重威脅到運輸及航行安全。
除此之外，世界海事主題還將重點放在與運輸人為因素有關的問題上，包括船上的保安及人身安全，海員的福祉以及確保海員接受適當培訓的重要性，以隨時準備應對數碼化和自動化的挑戰和機遇。
國際海事組織秘書長Kitack Lim提到︰
2019冠狀病毒仍全球肆虐，很多國家都實行封鎖及實施旅遊限制。無數船員不能換班，被遺棄船員更不計其數。人道主義危機威脅著全球貿易及船隻的航行安全。全球超過一百五十萬海員，他們的敬業和奉獻精神都值得我們敬佩，更重要的是應立即採取行動以保障海員換班。
我們需要更多政府支持，海員若成為關鍵工作人員有助確保他們優先接種疫苗。IMO已準備好促進海員的疫苗接種工作。除了受到疫情大流行的影響外，海員的生命亦受到其他威脅。其中一個主要的是海盜問題，不少海員被海盜挾持成為人質，為此而受傷或身故。
今年的世界海事主題 – “海員：航運未來的核心”是對那些在這場全球危機中繼續提供全球貿易，在船上表現出極大堅毅和決心的海員致敬。海員一直都是我們工作的核心，不論是在人身安全方面，海上安全以及環境保護方面，IMO都為此而努力。
IMO has chosen to make 2021 a year of action for seafarers, who are facing unprecedented hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite their vital role as key workers for global supply chains.
The World Maritime Theme for 2021, “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
The focus on seafarers comes as the COVID-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on seafarers, with hundreds of thousands of men and women stranded on ships for months beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated due to national travel restrictions. A similar number of seafarers are unable to join ships and earn a living. This crew change crisis, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, is a humanitarian emergency that threatens the safety of shipping.
Throughout the year, the World Maritime Theme will also put the spotlight on other issues related to the human element of shipping, including the safety and security of life on board ships, seafarers’ well-being, and the importance of ensuring an appropriately trained and qualified workforce, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of digitalization and automation.
IMO Message from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim:
COVID-19 pandemic still holds sway, with many countries subject to lockdowns and travel restrictions. Hundreds of thousands cannot leave ships; whilst many others cannot join. This humanitarian crisis threatens global trade and safe navigation. We all must do better to support our brave professionals who continue to deliver global trade.
The dedication and professionalism of more than one and a half million seafarers worldwide deserve our great admiration and gratitude – but most importantly, immediate action.
A first step would be for all countries to designate seafarers as key workers, we need more Governments to step up. Key worker designation is crucial to ensure prioritization for vaccination. But seafarers have not only been impacted by the pandemic, their lives have also been put at risk in other ways – one major issue being piracy incidents, costing lives and traumatizing many more who have been held hostage or are still in the hands of their attackers.
We need to do more and IMO has decided to make 2021 a year of action for our seafarers. This year’s World Maritime Theme – “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” – is dedicated to the seafarers who have shown tremendous fortitude and determination in continuing to deliver global trade throughout this global crisis. At IMO, seafarers have always been at the centre of all our work – be it in the area of safety, maritime security, or environmental protection.
All these important topics need global attention. We will be hosting many events supporting the theme. Our goal to highlight seafarers as the heart of shipping throughout the year and beyond.
(This material is taken from IMO website.)
https://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/Pages/World-Maritime-Theme-2021.aspx
