Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has proposed the International Maritime Organisation
(IMO) consider the issuance of regulations on prioritising COVID-19
vaccinations for sailors regardless their nationalities, thus minimising the risk
of pandemic spreading among the group.
The proposal was put forth in a letter from Nguyen Xuan Sang, Director of the and Deputy Secretary-General of the
IMO Vietnam, to IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim regarding
initiatives on creating favourable conditions and ensuring the utmost safety for
sailors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the letter, Sang expressed his support for the message of the
IMO Secretary-General to sailors, which stated that sailors and maritime staff
are key forces in providing necessary services.
Sang held that amid complicated developments of the
pandemic, it is crucial for governments of IMO member countries to issue
policies to include maritime workers to their prioritised lists for COVID-19
vaccinations, while administrating the vaccines on sailors and maritime workers
of vessels docking at ports under their management.
Agreeing with Sang’s proposal, the IMO Secretary-General
suggested that the official put the proposal into discussion during the 103th meeting
of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee which is slated for May 5.
Lim said that the IMO is working with the
International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to call on governments to
prioritise sailors in their COVID-19 vaccination programmes, thus creating
optimal conditions for safe travelling cross borders.
A joint statement is being drafted by UN agencies, which
will be issued soon, he added.
Lim said that the IMO will create best conditions for discussions
with its member countries and representatives of the maritime sector’s
representatives as well as the UN agencies and relevant parties to build a vaccination
coordination strategy.
Meanwhile, sailors, maritime enterprises and maritime
transport associations have submitted requests to authorised agencies, aking for prioritised
vaccinations for sailors working onboard cargo vessels.
According to the Vietnam Maritime Search and
Rescue Coordination Center, search and rescue activities have been maintained round-the-clock since the beginning of COVID-19
outbreak, but with high risks, especially in the cases involving foreign
sailors.
Leaders of the centre has proposed that the Government and
authorised agencies put maritime rescuers into the prioritised list in the COVID-19
vaccination scheme, thus maintaining effective operations of the force./.
Source: VietnamPlus
