8 June 2020
Dear Shipmaster,NOTICE TO ALL SHIPMASTERS
We, the members of the IFSMA Executive Council and the IFSMA Secretariat do hope that thisletter finds you, your crews and all your families safe and well wherever you are. This global
COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on all the maritime industry, but it is you theseafarer who must not be forgotten. We hope you are all aware of the work that theInternational Maritime Organisation (IMO) together with IFSMA and other key nonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) are putting in on your behalf to enable crew changes totake place. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF), supported by its affiliated unions, have been working closely withIFSMA to put pressure on Governments to start taking measures to ensure this happens tokeep you, the seafarers, safe and for ships to trade safely around the world. To date, arelatively small number of steps have been taken by relatively few nations, since most are only
concentrating on their internal domestic struggles against the global COVID-19 pandemic andare sometimes seemingly oblivious to your plight at sea.
Since the pandemic was declared by WHO in February, many Governments and International
Organisations rightly declared Force Majeure for keeping you at sea. IFSMA wishes toreiterate that it now considers this no longer appropriate. Shipmasters, their crews and all inauthority in the Shipping Industry remain subject to normal contractual conditions inaccordance with the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention and all IMO Codes, Conventions, Rules
and Regulations.
Easing of Restrictions NOT being Extended
Shipmasters share the responsibility of their ship owners and ship operator employers for thesafety and welfare of their crew and for the protection of the marine environment and it is forthis reason IFSMA writes personally to you today. The IMO has issued industry developed
Crew Change Protocols for the guidance of nations. Despite many nations starting to ease
lockdown restrictions, not all have been extended to facilitate crew changes; those that havebeen implemented have been driven by shipowners, crew managers and unions, with little
help from nations. Notwithstanding that a recent small number of repatriations and crewchanges are showing some signs of becoming easier, IFSMA is increasingly concerned that
there is now clear potential for the wholly unwarranted criminalisation of the Shipmaster if amaritime incident takes place in which tiredness and the mental health of their officers andcrew are subsequently found to have undermined the safe operation of their ship.

International Federation of Shipmasters‘ Associations
IFSMA • IMarEST • 1 Birdcage Walk • London SW1H 9JJ • United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7261 0450 • Fax: +44 20 3468 2134 • Email: HQ@ifsma.org • Website: www.ifsma.org

Beware Fatigue
IFSMA wishes to remind all Shipmasters of their responsibility to protect themselves and theircrew against attempts of suicides, fatigue, caused by long working days and extended tours ofduty, as enshrined in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification andWatchkeeping, 1978 and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended). Your attention
is also drawn to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 Regulation
34-1 which clearly states:“The owner, the charterer, the company operating the ship as defined in regulation IX/1, orany other person shall not prevent or restrict the master of the ship from taking or executing
any decision which, in the master’s professional judgement, is necessary for the safety of life
at sea and the protection of the marine environment”
ISM Code/SMS/MLC
The International Safety Management (ISM) Code also states that the Company should ensurethat the Safety Management System (SMS) operating on board the ship contains a clear
statement emphasising the master's authority. The Company should establish in the SMS thatthe master has the overriding authority and the responsibility to make decisions with respect
to safety and pollution prevention and to request the Company's assistance as and when may
be necessary. Finally, IFSMA draws your attention to MLC Regulation 5.1.5, On-board
complaints procedures.
If, despite your best efforts as master, you feel the safety of your ship and crew iscompromised due to lack of support from the shipowner or other factors, because:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Your crew is significantly beyond their contract termYour crew is fatigued
You are short handed
You are concerned about the safe operation of your ship
You do not have sufficient PPE including sanitisers/testing (etc)
You do not have access to appropriate supplies including medicines
You cannot get access to urgent medical and urgent dental services ashore
Your crew is not provided free wifi/internet contact with homeYour crew want to go home

Then:
You have a duty and responsibility to report this to the shipowner (whose name and address
must be stated on your seafarers’ employment agreement and the MLC Certificate carried
onboard). Put the interests of your crew first. If they are not being granted their full MLC
entitlements, such as: repatriation, access to medical care, entitlement to nutritious food,water and other supplies, then register their complaints with the shipowner.

International Federation of Shipmasters‘ AssociationsIFSMA • IMarEST • 1 Birdcage Walk • London SW1H 9JJ • United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7261 0450 • Fax: +44 20 3468 2134 • Email: HQ@ifsma.org • Website: www.ifsma.org

Under both SOLAS and the ISM Code you also have an obligation to report significant safetyissues to the Shipowner (DPA) and the flag State and ensure you advise your Associations andUnions of what you are doing. You need to do this for your own protection from possible
criminalisation in the event of a maritime incident, and for the safety of your crew and others.
In the event that the issues you raise are not satisfactorily resolved you are entitled to refuse
to sail on entry into your next port.
Enclosed with this letter is a list of some of the points you might also wish to consider
including in any Report/Complaint to your DPA or Administration
Take care and keep safe and remember that IFSMA, the ITF and your unions stand behind you
and are here to give you full support.
On behalf of the IFSMA Executive Council and the IFSMA Secretariat,

Captain Hans SandeIFSMA President

Commodore Jim Scorer
IFSMA Secretary General

International Federation of Shipmasters‘ Associations
IFSMA • IMarEST • 1 Birdcage Walk • London SW1H 9JJ • United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7261 0450 • Fax: +44 20 3468 2134 • Email: HQ@ifsma.org • Website: www.ifsma.org

Checklist of Points that may be considered to send to the Designated Person Ashore
and/or Flag State Administrationa) The crewi) Number of officersii) Number of ratingsb) Ship operationi) Concerns for the safe operationii) Operating normally, oriii) Describe operational disturbancesc) In porti) Ports where shore leave has been grantedii) Ports where shore leave has been deniediii)Problems with medical and dental servicesiv) Problems with acquisition of personal supplies, hygiene, clothing etc.
d) Crew changesi) Planned crew changesii) Delays to crew changesiii) Time on board for affected seafarersiv) Reason for delayse) Personal consequencesi) Physical conditions for the crewii) Psychological conditions for the crew, fatigue, depression, etc.
iii) Effects for crew relativesd) Operational consequencesi) Effects on maintenance and technical condition of the shipii) Effects on operations in port and at seae) Compensatory measures if crew change is further delayedi) Reduced or cancelled operationsii) Enhanced medical follow-upiii) Additional requirements for suppliesiv) Economical compensationInternational Federation of Shipmasters‘ AssociationsIFSMA • IMarEST • 1 Birdcage Walk • London SW1H 9JJ • United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7261 0450 • Fax: +44 20 3468 2134 • Email: HQ@ifsma.org • Website: www.ifsma.org