CESMA. CARTA DE PROTESTA

Els cossos de dos capitans que van morir a bord dels seus respectius vaixells en viatge cap a extrem no han pogut ser retornats a les seves famílies. Malgrat l'oferta de total cooperació dels armadors involucrats, les autoritats de Singapur, la Xina, Malàisia i Indonèsia es van negar a realitzar els tràmits per al seu trasllat aeri al·legant que “podrien” ser casos de covid19.

La lluita contra la pandèmia no pot ser mai oposada als valors ètics i humans, ha de ser, exactament, tot el contrari.

Copiem la carta que CESMA ha remès a les Comissions Europees de Transport i de Salut sobre aquests molt vergonyosos casos.

Confederation of European ShipsMasters’ Association Muntplein 10 - 1012 WR AMSTERDAM - THE NETHERLANDS

email : cesma-eu@introweb.nl On 21 June 2021

To Mrs Adina VALEAN EU Commissioner for Transport

To Mrs Stella KYRIAKIDES EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

To Mr Henrik HOLOLEI – Mr Matthew BALDWIN Mrs Magda KOPCZYNSKA – Mr Sandro SANTAMATO Mr Sian PROUT – Mrs Daniela ROSCA DG MOVE

Subject : Impossibility for repatriation of dead seafarers

Dear Madam, Dear Sir,

The Covid-19 crisis is not yet finished, mainly for seafarers. Even if they were declared and recognised as « key workers » by a great majority of countries, the situation for them does not still not go to a better and easier facility. It came to our attention that seafarers who died at sea are still not treated as « normal humans ».

Several cases of ships with bodies of seafarers died on board, due to the covid pandemy or not, are not allowed to be repatriated to their home country for proprer funeral. Despite the fact the countries who denied the landing and repatriation of bodies are all signatory of the IMO recommandation to recognise seafarers as key workers.It is especially the case for two captains, on M/V Ital Libera and M/V Vantage Wave. M/V Ital Libera : despite the decease of captain in April 2021, beginning june same year the owners should declared force majeure case in order to bring the vessel in Italy for to land the body of the captain in his country. M/V Vantage Wave, the romanian captain died mid april 2021, probably not due to the pandemy but to a heart attack. The vessel sailed between Asia and South Africa, and was denied to desembark the body of the captain till now.

Even the solution proned by Chinese authorities to make a « burial at sea » is a solution which shows, if deemed necessary, the very poor consideration China is given to seafarers.

How can you imagine the physical and psychological conditions the « survival seafarers » are living and, maybe most important, working ? Does safety at sea improve in such conditions ? Why all those countries signed the IMO recommandation ? Should it be considered, or not, as a normal « human right » to be repatriated and buried in your own country ?

Cesma asks you, as European Commissioneers, to use of your influence to push the Administration of the countries where are calling vessels to be in concordance with the international rules and human rights.

We remain at Your disposal to discuss the matter.

Respectfull regards

Capt ; H. ARDILLON

CESMA President