COVID

As previously reported, Seafarers are asked to consider participating in an anonymous survey (“Mariner Mental Health Needs during COVID-19”) conducted by the University of Washington. As noted on the landing page: “Results from this survey will be used by federal agencies, vessel owners/operators, mariner unions, maritime training institutions, seafarer welfare…

The International Chamber of Shipping, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Intertanko and the International Maritime Health Association have teamed up to publish “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccination for Seafarers and Shipping Companies: A Practical Guide.” The document – available in PDF form HERE and also linked on the ITF website HERE…

The hiring hall in Norfolk, Virginia, has reopened as of this morning (Thursday, March 25). The hall had been closed for precautionary reasons. ###

The U.S. Coast Guard recently issued the following update to Marine Safety Information Bulletin 02-21. For a PDF copy, click HERE. Both of the following links appear in the MSIB, but Seafarers are encouraged to check out the related Coast Guard FAQ HERE and the related CDC FAQ HERE. The…

The hiring hall in Norfolk, Virginia, is closed until further notice (effective Tuesday morning, March 23), for precautionary reasons. Members can still reach the hall and conduct business by phone at (757) 622-1892. We’ll post an update when one is available. ###

The International Maritime Organization recently posted this update on the global crew-change crisis. It's available on the IMO website HERE. Crew change crisis is far from over and issues around vaccination need to be resolved. The crew change crisis caused by COVID-19 restrictions continues to cause challenges, despite some improvement…

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued the following Marine Safety Information Bulletin. It's available on the agency's website HERE. COVID-19 Crew Change Issues  The COVID-19 pandemic has significant impacts on the U.S. Marine Transportation System, the Global shipping industry and on seafarers themselves. Travel restrictions imposed by governments around the…

The United States Committee on the Marine Transportation System is calling for U.S. mariners to be reclassified to Phase 1(b) when it comes to prioritizing them for COVID-19 vaccination. The committee is a federal interagency coordinating group chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. They have published a “white paper”…

The CDC recently issued guidance indicating that COVID-19 vaccines should not be delayed because of testing for TB infection. Testing for TB infection can be done before or at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccination. If it is not done at the same time, the TB test should be…

The Defense Department has posted a video of DOD Secretary Lloyd Austin discussing COVID-19 vaccines. The video is available here: https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Video/videoid/784646/ As provided by DOD, this is the text of the video: Hello there, I’m Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense. I wanted to speak with you today about the coronavirus…