The Isle of Man Ship Registry is leading a panel entitled “Crew welfare and the skills challenge” within Digital Marine Week organised by SeaTrade Maritime, a leading maritime industry publication. The panel features representatives from other commercial and trade organisations including independent trade union Nautilus International and technology providers Inmarsat, Tapiit and Thetius.
Over 1.6 million seafarers keep the world’s merchant fleet at sea, delivering fuel, vital medicines, food and equipment globally. However, closed borders and quarantine restrictions due to the current COVID-19 pandemic are hampering crew changes, creating a potential seafarer welfare crisis which threatens to interrupt world trade.
Travel restrictions, port quarantine requirements and the logistics of crew replacements has caused havoc for crew members finishing their contracts and wanting to get home to their families. The panel will be discussing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on crew members and how technology can potentially ease the tensions caused by the current situation thereby safeguarding the future wellbeing of seafarers. This panel will focus on the human element and how companies can interact with and exploit new technologies to help the industry work safer and smarter.
Cameron Mitchell, Director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry, commented:
’The Isle of Man Ship Registry has been looking at ways to tackle crew wellbeing and mental welfare issues long before COVID-19 accelerated the need to do so. We are delighted to be offering our thoughts on this panel and to share tangible solutions that the Ship Registry is investing in to positively influence the lives of our seafarers.’
The webinar session is free to attend and you can register on here.