Guidelines on protection of health, repatriation and travel arrangements for seafarers, passengers and other persons on board ships
Summary
• The COVID-19 pandemic has far-reaching effects on maritime transport and
persons on board ships. The Guidelines for border management measures to
protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services
state that Member States should facilitate the transit of EU citizens and
third-country nationals who are EU residents for their return home. Workers in
essential functions, regardless of their
nationality, should be able to transit and travel to ensure continued
professional activity.
• Persons on board of ships should be able to undertake essential travel. EU
citizens stranded in Member States other than that of their nationality or
residence, in third countries or on the High Seas should be able to return
home, if their health status permits.3 It is the primary responsibility of
cruise ship operators and shipowners to arrange for the return of persons on
board, regardless of whether disembarkation takes place within or outside the
EU.
• Many seafarers on cargo vessels operating in European waters are third
country nationals. Regardless of their nationality, they should be able to
travel to the ports where they need to embark and be allowed to disembark and
return home, which would also contribute to ensuring that the sector remains
operational in the medium and long term, as confirmed by the Communication on
the implementation of the Green Lanes. Only when crew changes are possible can
maritime transport continue
uninterrupted, safeguarding the internal market by distributing goods across
the EU and enabling export and import of cargo from and to EU ports. Therefore,
Member States should designate ports, where crew changes are facilitated.
• There are roughly 600,000 seafarers of all nationalities serving on board EU
interests ships worldwide. The International Maritime Organization recommends
that crew changeovers should be possible around the globe.5 To ensure the
continuity and safety of maritime transport, the Commission is taking steps to
facilitate and coordinate the efforts of Member States to enable crew changes
in their ports.
ZA VISE DETALJA POGLEDAJTE NA:
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/legislation/c20203100.pdf
