ECSA

The World Health Organisation has included seafarers that should be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccination in the context of limited supplies.

ECSA and ETF would like to draw the attention of the Ministers of Transport to the recently adopted ILO Resolution on COVID-19 vaccination for seafarers which recognizes the importance of seafarers as key workers and calls upon States to provide seafarers with access to COVID-19 vaccination at the earliest opportunity.

ETF and ECSA call for the classification of seafarers as key workers and an introduction of specific rights and entitlements for seafarers everywhere.

On International Women's Day, ECSA and ETF continue to advocate the enhanced participation of women in European shipping. As part of the WESS project, they are launching a survey that will help them determine the current state of women’s employment in the sector and assess women seafarers’ needs, a first step of an EU-funded project to increase women’s participation in the shipping industry.

In a letter to Heads of State and Government of EU Member States, the ETF and ECSA called on EU Member States to enable crew changes and give seafarers priority access to COVID-19 vaccines.

ECSA, the ETF, the ICS and the ITF addressed a joint letter to Commission President Von der Leyen, Vice President Schinas, Commissioner Johansson and Commissioner Vălean reiterating their call for the European Commission to follow up on the promise to ensure prompt and predictable disembarkation of people in distress at sea rescued by merchant vessels and their crews.

Ahead of the Informal Videoconference of the Ministers of Transport on 8 December 2020, ETF and ECSA urge EU Member States to make the wellbeing of seafarers a priority during the holiday period.

CSA and the ETF are happy to announce that they have appointed ‘Image Line Communications’ as the lead agency to support them with the implementation of the priority actions identified in their joint declaration of intention on the enhanced participation of women in EU shipping.

Today, European maritime social partners ETF and ECSA met with European transport commissioner, Adina-Ioana Vălean. They discussed the most urgent issues in the industry as well as more long-term measures that can improve the lives of seafarers.