Over 450 industry leaders join forces

“We believe it is essential that all parties in the supply chain—industry, government and non-governmental organizations—work together to find solutions that support the wellbeing of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Neptune Declaration is an encouraging step forward, bringing together leading industry leaders who are committed to taking action. Our top priority remains not only getting crews off board but also ensuring they are able to travel home safely.“ Jan Dieleman, President, Cargill Ocean Transportation

“Through the Neptune Declarations I am so pleased to see the whole maritime logistics chain coming together to support our seafarers and to recognize them as key workers. It is a recognition of the vital role seafarers play in keeping the world economy moving and never more so than today as we continue to battle through the Covid pandemic.” Paul Wogan, CEO, Gaslog

“Seafarers are the key workers that allow vital global supply chains to continue to operate even during a pandemic. I am delighted to see how stakeholders from across the entire maritime value chain recognize that they have a shared responsibility to ensure that seafarers can do this safely.” Johannah Christensen, Managing Director, Head of Projects & Programmes, Global Maritime Forum

“Seafarers are the unacceptable collateral damage on the war on COVID-19 and this must stop. If we want to maintain global trade seafarers must not be put to the back of the vaccine queue. You can’t inject a global population without the shipping industry and most importantly our seafarers. We are calling on the supply chain to take action to support seafarers now.” Guy Platten, Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping

”From the onset of the pandemic, an unprecedented tripartite cooperation between IMEC, ITF, ICS has resulted in ensuring governments and global maritime regulatory bodies focus on the plight of seafarers. Though the crisis and the difficulties remain, the industry was able to reduce the level of humanitarian crisis on board. Continued efforts are needed to ensure the four key actions raised in the Neptune Declaration are addressed by all stakeholders in the industry. Our thanks to the Global Maritime Forum and the Maritime Industry Crew Change Taskforce, for the great effort to bring all sectors of the industry together to commit to the Neptune Declaration. Let us hope, our combined effort will ease the suffering of our Seafarers.” Capt. Belal Ahmed, Chairman, International Maritime Employers’ Council

“With the rise of new variants of Covid, we are sadly seeing governments backsliding from progress that was made last year and increasing their restrictions again. Let’s be honest here, the locking of borders to seafarers by governments is directly resulting in the forced labour of the world’s seafarers. Leaving the human indignity aside, this poses an incredibly dangerous risk to the supply chains of the global economy. Right now is the time for every CEO, every Board member, of every company that relies on global shipping, to recognise their responsibility to use their leverage to demand that governments unblock borders to seafarers before this crisis gets worse – it can’t be ignored anymore.” Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation

“We have a unique opportunity to make a difference, coming together to resolve the humanitarian concerns of our seafarers – they are the “heart and soul” of a ship who enable this industry to “move the world.” Gerardo A. Borromeo, Vice-Chairman & CEO, Philippine Transmarine Carriers

“The Covid-19 pandemic has thrust the human and labour rights risks faced by seafarers into the spotlight. As the world continues to rely on seafarers to keep our hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets stocked, there is an urgent need to tackle the systemic challenges that have allowed the crew change crisis to continue. We join our industry peers today in calling for collaborative and coordinated action to bring this crisis to an end, and meet our collective responsibility to our seafarers.” Andrew Stephens, Executive Director, Sustainable Shipping Initiative

“Travel restrictions, despite the numerous efforts to ease them, have taken a devastating toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of the world’s seafarers. A majority of them onboard are still unsure on when they might return home even as they continue altruistically to play a critical role in the Vaccine and PPE supply chains. It’s a cruel paradox that is leaving their families in a constant state of despair and worry about their loved ones. The fact that many countries are still not giving the seafarers their deserved recognition is unacceptable. It is our collective responsibility to have all seafarers be truly recognized and treated as key workers with vaccinations a priority and travel restrictions lifted for them immediately.” Rajesh Unni, CEO, Synergy Group

“Keeping people safe while keeping food, material for the manufacture and administering of vaccines, and other essential goods moving efficiently is key for global supply chain continuity, trade and our everyday lives. By granting stranded seafarers key worker status, and by prioritizing vaccine allocation for transport crew, we can prevent a deepening humanitarian and economic crisis. Unified, prompt action from governments and other key stakeholders is needed to protect the lives and livelihoods of the 1.4 million seafaring men and women who serve us all across the seas, and who continue to face extreme risk to their safety and earnings.” Margi Van Gogh, Head of Supply Chain and Transport, Shaping the Future of Mobility, World Economic Forum