National policies needed to ensure reliable supply chains, says ITF

National policies needed to ensure reliable supply chains, says ITF

By admin  On March 30, 2023 In Cargo, Insurance Marine News, Keep, Marine Liability, Political Risk, Credit & Finance 

“Opportunities for Seafarers and National Maritime Policies: Navigating Beyond the Chaos of the Pandemic,” a new report from the International Transport Workers’ Federation has emphasized that the world need “robust national maritime policies” if the impact of supply chain disruptions is to be reduced, and environmental responsibility is to be encouraged.

Report co-author Chris Given, Secretary-Treasurer of the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU Canada), said that countries with well-established national maritime policies fared better during the pandemic. They were able to quickly recover economically and secure essential supplies such as medicines and fuel for their citizens.

“During the pandemic, in many countries consumers and businesses experienced shortages, including of critical goods like medicines and fuel supplies. But what we see is that in other countries, specifically those with robust national maritime policies, governments were able to harness well-laid policy levers to get their people fed, fuelled and on a quicker path back to economic and health recovery”, Given said.

The ITF noted that the pandemic highlighted how the just-in-time global supply chain system had become fragile, with shipping containers scattered across the world and ports facing unprecedented congestion. That fragility resulted in shortages of critical goods. At the same time, the pandemic and its concomitant national travel restrictions stranded up to 400,000 seafarers on their vessels.

The report emphasized that it was those governments that had sensible national maritime policies which coped best with the pandemic and its consequences. Countries without such policies faced significant economic and social risks. The report noted that countries such as Australia suffered from a lack of strategic fleet planning, and that this left businesses and consumers at the mercy of an unpredictable global shipping market.

The report showcased recent efforts by Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, South Africa, the UK, and the USA to strengthen maritime policies in domestic legislation and planning.

David Heindel, ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair and President of the Seafarers International Union of North America (SIU), said that “the standout performance of our domestic shipping sectors, not only in the US, but elsewhere too, throughout these crises, shows that when you invest in your people, your plant and your industry – you are better prepared to provide for your citizens come what may in the global headwinds”.

ITF Maritime Coordinator Jacqueline Smith highlighted the need for governments to invest in training and retraining seafarers to handle the fuels and ships of the future. Smith said that by 2030 up to 800,000 seafarers would require some form of retraining or familiarization. “Now is the time for governments to invest in a secure future by putting in place sensible national maritime policies,” Smith said.