Vol. 18 No. 5 September/October 2021

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Voicesfrom theSeafarers
Page 3

Local gov’ts to cooperate in giving jabs

Seafarers now
allowed Covid
vaccines at
ports of call;
JSU urged local
governments;
Unique work
schedulesconsidered;
Seafarers’ voices
get heard

T

STATEMENT (Full Text)

he All Japan Seamen’s
Union (JSU) has
called on Japan’s central government, relevant governmental organizations
and local governments to inoculate seamen with Covid-19 vaccines early in effective and smoothways. The union has claimed thateven if seafarers become infectedwith the coronavirus, it is difficult
to receive appropriate medical
treatment once they are on duty
at sea. As they frequently spend
several consecutive days on board

Seafarers have up until now been locked out of getting vaccine shots at recommended intervals
because they are often at sea working or at a port of call that is not their registered residences.

ships and off duty, which is a lifestyle peculiar to seafarers, it is alsodifficult to receive two vaccine
shots at the recommended schedule. On Sept. 6, as such, Japan’s
ministries of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and
Health, Labor and Welfare jointly
requested the health departmentsof local governments to smoothly
provide vaccines to seafarers. The
ministries asked the departments

Sept. 6, 2021
Subject: measures to inoculate seamen with
COVID-19 vaccines
To: the health authorities of prefectures andother municipalities
From: the Seafarers Policy and Coastal Shipping divisions of the MLIT’s Maritime Bureau and under the Health Service Divisionof the MLHW’s Health Service Bureau
Currently, local governments and other relevant entities are advancing the inoculationof COVID-19 vaccines in accordance with
the Preventive Vaccination Act (Act No. 63,
1948). As for vaccine administration to seamen, shipping service operators are making
efforts to help them appropriately get vaccine

to allow seafarers to get vaccine
jabs at ports of call and other locations regardless of where they are
registered as residents. The ministries also requested that when doing so, seafarers would not haveto notify in advance the local governments in order to receive thevaccine shots.
Working in unusual environments, seafarers are frequently
subject to special assignment pat-jabs by arranging schedules as much as possible while trying to maintain ship operations.
In many cases, however, seamen work inservice patterns under which they continue
to work and have days off for long periodof time (in domestic shipping, for example,
seamen work for three months and thentake leave for one full month). Therefore, it
is difficult to complete two vaccine shots inlimited amounts of time while they are awayfrom work. Some may have to receive shots
when their vessels stop at ports that are faraway from their homes. Due to such work
environments peculiar to seamen, it is alsodifficult to appropriately make reservations
and get vaccines.
Taking into consideration such work environments peculiar to seamen and otherterns under which they continue
to stay on board and vacation formany consecutive days. In domestic shipping in Japan, for example,
seafarers sometimes work continuously for three months and thenvacation for one month. They,
however, still must complete two
vaccine doses in a determined
number of days apart while they
are off duty. Some may have to get
vaccines when their vessels stop at

conditions, as such, the JSU is making therequests that are described below regarding
vaccine administrations to seamen and asking for understanding.

Requests
Seamen work in peculiar service patterns, meaning that, for example, theyremain on and off duty for many consecutive days. Therefore, it is sometimes
difficult to have two vaccine shots attheir hometowns while they are off duty.
Taking this fact into consideration, it isrequested that seamen would be allowed
to get vaccine shots at ports of call andother locations that are not where theirresidencies are registered. It is also asked
that seamen would not have to inform

ports of call that are away fromtheir homes. For these reasons, it
is difficult now for them to makethe reservations for the vaccine
shots.
Taking such work circumstances and other related factors
into consideration, the JSU has
worked relentlessly and called on
the MLIT and other governmental bodies to get seafarers vaccinated.
In September, as a consequence,
the MLIT’s Maritime Bureau
and the MHLW’s Health Service
Bureau jointly asked the healthauthorities of prefectures, cities,
towns, villages and wards for cooperation. Details are described
below.
1) The Maritime and HealthService bureaus requested the local health authorities to allow
seafarers to receive vaccines atplaces other than their registeredresidences in case they do so at
ports of call and other locations.
The bureaus also asked that when
doing so, seafarers would not haveto notify in advance the local governments in order to receive thevaccine shots.
2) Due to their on-board schedules and other matters, not all seafarers can have two vaccine doses
at the same locations. Therefore,
the bureaus asked the authorities
to make arrangements so that eventhose who only want to get second
shots can make reservations.
3) The bureaus called on the local governments of cities, towns
and villages exercising jurisdiction
over ports of call to take measures
for smooth vaccine inoculations.
More specifically, the municipalities were asked to lend their ears
and give suggestions when receiving inquiries on vaccine reservations to be made in considerationof seafarers’ on-board schedules
and other matters from shipping
service providers.

the local governments of the places
where they want to get vaccine shots inadvance. Some seamen cannot have twojabs at the same locations owing to theiron-board schedules and other reasons.
Therefore, it is demanded that arrangements will be made for smooth inoculation, for example, allowing even those
who just want to have second doses canmake reservations.
More measures are also requested forsmooth vaccine administration. For example, when the local governments of municipalities managing ports of call have inquiries
from shipping service operators on vaccine
reservations to be made in accordance withseamen’s schedules, they are asked to lendears and provide help.

MARITIME NEWS(2)

SPETEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

IBF ends talks, recognizes seafarers’ sacrifices

T

he ITF and JNG met
from September 1-3,
2021 for importantnegotiations on wage
increase and other cost elements.
Due to the pandemic, the social
partnership had agreed to defer
the start of the negotiations forthe period 2021-2022, initiallyscheduled for March 2020.
The negotiations were particularly challenging due to the profit
variations in the industry, as wellas the increased operational costs
due to the pandemic. However,both parties acknowledged theneed to recognize the sacrificesthat seafarers have made during
the pandemic, continuing to keep
global trade moving while unable
to return home following the expiration of their contracts, and receiving no wage increase in 2021.
The negotiations were successfully concluded with the following agreement:

1. An increase on wages andcompensations of 3% from January 1, 2022;
2. An increase on wages andcompensations of 1.5% from January 1, 2023; and3. An increase in JNG members’ rebate from the ITF Welfare
Fund to 20% to contribute to the
IBF Seafarers Support Fund.
Prior to the negotiations, the social partners have had a period of
exceptionally close cooperation,with both sides being deeply frustrated by the treatment of seafarers
during the Covid-19 pandemic by
the world’s governments. Blockedfrom accessing crew change to gohome at the end of contracts, andeven barred from many countries’
hospitals; labor and employer
groups have been engaged in joint
efforts to ensure seafarers’ rights
are restored.
ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair
Mr. David Heindel was the ITF

spokesperson and chaired thetalks.
“From the initial risk the pandemic posed to seafarers, to theongoing challenge of seafarers
sometimes being denied emergency medical treatment by port
states, to the global scandal thatis the crew change crisis: throughthe last 18 months seafarers haveshown exceptional professionalism and commitment. Therefore,
we are proud we have managed
to deliver increases to seafarers’
income. Their daily sacrifices tokeep supply chains moving, delivering the goods critical to ourrecovery to billions of consumers and businesses is recognized,”
Heindel said.
Spokesperson for the Joint
Negotiating Group of maritime
employers (JNG), Capt. Belal
Ahmed echoed Mr. Heindel’s
message that the industry was
thanking seafarers in very realterms.
“Employers in the maritime industry, the shipowners, the management agents: the difficult andstormy waters of this pandemic
have brought us closer to thecrew. We see the sacrifices they
have made, and, where within ourmeans as businesses committed
to being around in the future: wehave endeavoured to recognize theseafarers’ efforts,” Capt. Ahmed
said.
Also from the employers’ side of
the table, Chairman of JNG and
IMMAJ Mr. Toshihito Inoue added that: “The pay agreement locks
in stability in the seafarer wage
market going forward, allowing
employers to better weather thevolatilities in demand being experienced in various shipping markets since 2020.”
ITF President and Dockers’
Section chair Mr. Paddy Crumlin,
who participated in the negotia-

tions in his capacity as co-chair of
the ITF’s Fair Practices Committee, welcomed the deal.
“This is an important outcome not only for seafarers, but
all maritime workers, as it showscommitment from reputable employers to the continued global
collective bargaining process thatis essential for the global supply
chain. Multinationals in othersectors should strive to ensure
proper framework agreements fortheir direct and indirect employees in their global supply chain,”
Crumlin said.
The International Bargaining
Forum (IBF) Framework Agreement between the ITF and the
Joint Negotiating Group (JNG)
sets the terms, conditions andpay for the world’s internationalseafarers working aboard vessels
flying the flag of an open register
designated as flag of convenienceby the ITF. (Source:ITF)

SRI-led convention ClassNK joins in call for decarbonization
mulls future-proofing
challenges of MLC
London International Shipping
Week 2021 was the backdrop fora unique and thought-provoking
conference titled “Future-proofing the Maritime Labor Convention”, held by SRI at the International Maritime Organization(IMO) recently.
Over 120 people including representatives from over 30 States
attended in person to hear addresses from governmental ministry leaders, shipowners, seafarers, port state control, training
colleges and cadets, each providing their unique perspective on
the challenges faced over the last
18 months and the future of the
Maritime Labor Convention(MLC).
The conference was opened by
Deirdre Fitzpatrick, executive
director of SRI. Keynote speeches were given by Kitack Lim,secretary-general of the IMO
and Robert Courts MP, minister
for Aviation, Maritime and Security in the United Kingdom.
A presidential message was sent
to the conference by His Excellency President and Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte of the Philippines.
Speaking following the conference, Deirdre Fitzpatrick said:“We were delighted by the number of contributions we received
to the ongoing discussion on the
future of the MLC. The MLC isa living instrument that has beenchallenged in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Now more than ever the convention must be seen as something dynamic, that can be partof the solution addressing some of
the issues that were perceived tohave failed during the pandemic,”
Fitzpatrick said.
“The industry has forged ahead
with a raft of initiatives to address
the plight of seafarers and to support the maritime industry during
Covid-19. Many of these initiatives have broken new ground.
As we discuss the future of theindustry, the effective operationof the MLC will be a central partof that discussion for seafarers andthe maritime industry generally.
We at SRI will remain engaged in
the discussions on these matters,”
she said.
The opening session of the conference focused on the need formore states to designate seafarers
as key workers and to ensure fairtreatment of seafarers following
maritime casualties in the context
of the MLC.
A second session discussed therole of port state control in enforcing the MLC.
In the final session on careerand skill development for seafarers, cadets from Warsash Maritime School addressed the conference and shared their priorities
and hopes for their future careers.
(Source: SRI)

Signatories of the Call to Action
for Shipping Decarbonizationurge world leaders to align shipping with the Paris Agreement
temperature goal. The private sector is already taking important
steps to decarbonize global supply chains. It is indispensable thatgovernments deliver the policies
that will supercharge the transition and make zero emission shipping the default choice by 2030.
Full decarbonization of international shipping is urgent andachievable. This is the clear message from more than 150 industry
leaders and organizations representing the entire maritime value
chain, including shipping, cargo,energy, finance, ports, and infrastructure.
In conjunction with the UN
General Assembly and ahead of
critical climate negotiations at
COP26 in Glasgow this November, they call on governments towork together with industry todeliver the policies and investments needed to reach criticaltipping points in decarbonizing
global supply chains and the global economy.
Signatories of the Call to Action
for Shipping Decarbonization callon world leaders to:Commit to decarbonizing international shipping by 2050 anddeliver a clear and equitable implementation plan to achieve thiswhen adopting the IMO GHG
Strategy in 2023.
Support industrial scale zero
emissionshipping
projects
through national action, for instance by setting clear decarbonization targets for domestic shipping and by providing incentives
and support to first movers andbroader deployment of zero emissions fuels and vessels.
Deliver policy measures thatwill make zero emission shipping

the default choice by 2030, including meaningful market-based
measures, taking effect by 2025
that can support the commercial deployment of zero emission
vessels and fuels in international
shipping.
Signatories to the Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization include some of the world’s
largest actors in global trade, andClassNK has joined. Taking thisopportunity, Hiroaki Sakashita,
President & CEO of ClassNK
says “ClassNK commits to support both public and private approaches to zero emission bycarrying out reliable regulatory
service, developing broader certification service responding toemerging needs, and extending
outcomes from partnerships withindustry pioneers. With all ourstrengths, ClassNK will accompany the journey to shipping decarbonization.” (Source: ClassNK)

ICS launches new guidance on Covid challenges
On the first day of London International Shipping Week, the International Chamber of Shipping
has published new and updated
guidance to protect seafarers andshipowners against the challengesof the coronavirus pandemic.
The free resources include guidance on vaccinations, manning
agents, mental health issues, andshore leave.
Despite noted improvements
in rates of vaccination for seafarers, only 25% are fully vaccinated,and most are not in line to receivea vaccine through their national
programs until at least 2022.
Meanwhile, severe travel re-strictions across the world have
led to seafarers being stranded
on board, some for more than 18
months. This deterrent to existing workers and potential new recruits has stretched global supply
chains to breaking point, withshortages of key goods reported,and shipping costs approaching
all-time highs.
Now, ICS has worked with acoalition of industry partners to
produce new and updated guidance, which aims to empower
seafarers and shipowners withthe knowledge to protect andsupport themselves through thenext stage of the pandemic. The

guides were produced in association with International Maritime
Health Association, INTERTANKO, International Transport
Worker Federation (ITF), European Community Shipowners’
Associations (ESCA), Intercargo,
InterManager, International Association of Ports and Harbors,
International Christian Maritime
Association, International Marine
Contractors Association, International Maritime Employers’
Council Ltd., Asian Shipowners’
Association (ASA), and the International Maritime Employers’
Council (IMEC). (Source: International Chamber of Shipping)SEAFARERS’ CORNERSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

(3)

VOICES from SEAFARERS

Signing off crewmembers of MV CORAL QUEEN
We had successfully spent months of firm challengeevading the infection of the corona virus with extra precautions in disguise of the health protocols. For yoursafety, please follow every port regulations on covid-19 by
way of example.

Signing off crewmembers of MV GOOD HORIZON
Signing off is one of the happiest moment in a seafarer’s
life. Though the present condition was felt with caution
amid the pandemic, we’re so thankful to the concern authorities who had taken care of our safety during the repatriation.

Crewmembers of MV KUMANO
Stay safe everyone! Observe the necessary health protocols to avoid the spread of the corona virus. We wish everybody to be fully vaccinated on their next embarkations.

Officers and crew of MV RISING HIMEJI
The presence of the corona virus is invisible to the nakedeyes. It is our prerogative to be aware of this pandemic.
Contain the spread of covid-19 by observing the essential
health protocols at all times.

Signing off crewmembers of MV MIGHTY DANDYThere is a joy and excitement in signing off. Soon we’ll
see our families, as they are waiting on delighted smiles
under this grave condition of pandemic. We hope all iswell and thanks to the people who had arranged this pleasing repatriation.

Officers and crew of MV SPRING LIBERTY
Exercise is one of the important errands in boosting ourimmune system. Doing so, we’re into sport to develop
strengths and to protect us against any infection from thepandemic. Our aim is to stay fit and healthy to the rest of
our contracts and to reach our destinations safely.

Stabilization of crew change crisis seen as vaccinations up

T

ravel
restrictions,flight cancellations
and domestic lockdowns continue toprevent seafarers from going backhome. This is according to reporting from the world’s top ship
managers provided for the Neptune Declaration Crew Change
Indicator.
But there could be light at theend of the tunnel. After monthsof deterioration, the September
Indicator shows that the numberof seafarers onboard vessels beyond the expiry of their contract
has slightly decreased from 9.0%

to 8.9% in the last month. Similarly, the number of seafarers onboard vessels for over 11 months
has slightly decreased from 1.3%
to 1.2%. The Maritime Labour
Convention states that the maximum continuous period a seafarer
should serve on board a vessel
without leave is 11 months. Thus,
the September Indicator confirms
the tendency from August thatthe situation may be stabilizing.
The September Indicator has
another bright spot. The Neptune
Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change calls for
seafarers to be recognized as key

workers and given priority accessto Covid-19 vaccines. New numbers suggest that programs set up
to offer vaccines to internationalseafarers, especially in the US
and some European countries,
are starting to kick in. The September Indicator shows that theaggregate percentage of seafarers
who have been vaccinated has
risen from 15.3% in August to
21.9% in September.
“It is very encouraging to
see that the number of seafarers who have been vaccinatedhas increased by 6.6 percentage
points in the last month. But

there is room for improvement.
Vaccination rates remain behindlarge shipping nations in Europe,
North America and Asia wheremore than 50% of the population
is fully vaccinated,” says Kasper
Søgaard, Managing Director,
Head of Institutional Strategy
and Development, Global Maritime Forum.
Ship managers report for the
first time that they are facing
a shortage of seafarers and cite
travel restrictions for Indian seafarers and the European summer
holiday period as causes. Stillgovernments and ports are plac-

ing stricter crew change requirements which have resulted in thecancellation of crew changes.
Despite the progress in seafarer vaccinations, ship managers
highlighted that there continues
to be limited access to Covid-19
vaccines for seafarers due to supply issues. Furthermore, ensuring
access to the second dose of thevaccine remains a challenge and,in many cases, there is a significant gap between the two doses
for seafarers. Ship managers also
report reluctance by some seafarers to get vaccinated. (Source:
Global Maritime Forum)

Technology can be used to ease administrative, workload pressures on seafarers
The latest Seafarers HappinessIndex (SHI) has revealed a “steep
and concerning” drop in happiness levels in Q2, linked in part to
the impact of Covid-19 hygiene
requirements on workloads andthe pressures of administrative
work rising.
In the report there were complaints of far too many emails fromshore to ship. Previously there wasa sense that office management
and executives ashore were trying
not to put too much pressure on

ships, but now their demands forpaperwork and data are causingmajor problems at sea.
Alexander Buchmann, Managing Director, Hanseaticsoft said
that shipping companies need tomove away from using outdated
technology and legacy systems andembrace cloud-based digital solutions to lighten the administrative
burden on seafarers.
Buchmann says, “The Covid-19
pandemic shone a light on thetechnology shipping companies

were using, with many realising
the systems they had in place were
inadequate. There is now a growing need for companies to invest
in flexible cloud-based solutions
which can centralize data and information, reduce administrationand help to manage entire fleets.
“Moving to the cloud can create a more connected workforce toensure easy, real-time exchange ofdata between crews at sea and teams
working remotely or in the office.
With data accessible in one central

place, people no longer work in silos and can communicate and collaborate easily with colleagues.
“This reduces the need for emails
to go back and forth as information can be accessed by the entire
workforce whether they are on
shore or at sea, in one central place.
Cloud-based software can be used
to empower ship masters to take amore active part in crew management and do a variety of administrative tasks directly on board.
New apps can enable companies

to easily manage all the documentation crews need, as well as theirvisas, allocate accommodation,and schedule their working andrest hours in line with regulations.
Seafarers have access to a crew portal too, where they can view important information such as theirschedules and rest hours or performance related data and manage
their work documents – this element of self-service saves managers
time and administration. (Source:
Hanseaticsoft)

(4)ADVISORIES/WARNINGSSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021

Reporting requirements for vessels entering China waters

T

he Maritime Safety
Administrationofthe People’s Republicof China (PRC) notice of August 27, 2021 contains
information on the type of ships
covered by this requirement, theinformation that must be reported and how the reporting shall bemade. Oasis P&I Services’ circular contains an English translationof the requirements.
The China Navy Hydrographic
Office (CNHO) is China’s official hydrographic surveying andmapping organization and pub-lishes the nautical publications
authorized by the government.
Currently no Notices to Mariners
released by CNHO or its counterparts in the United Kingdom, theUnited Kingdom Hydrographic
Office (UKHO), contain the reporting requirement.
China’s territorial waters
The MSA notice refers to foreign
vessels entering the territorial sea
of China. The partial baselines of
the territorial sea of China canbe found on the webpage of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC.

Mariners who would like to verify
the limits of the territorial watersof China should refer to the above
website which give the details ofChina’s claimed territorial waters.
There are no declared baselines in
Bohai Sea. Vessels bound for ports
in the Bohai Sea should contact
their local agents prior to arrival
to ensure effective compliancewith the reporting requirements.
Penalties for non-compliance
Where vessels do not comply withthe requirements, the Maritime
Safety Administration can impose

a fine of between CNY50,000
to CNY500,000 (US$7,700 to
US$77,000) on the owner, operator or manager of the vessel anda fine of between CNY10,000
to CNY30,000 (US$1550 to
US$4,600) upon the master.
Recommendations• We recommend that masters ofvessels calling any port in China familiarize themselves with the Circular and look out for any future
Notices to Mariners from the hydrographic office or any changes to
the Admiralty Sailing Directions.

• The reporting limits should bemarked on the navigation charts
and all navigating officers shouldfamiliarize themselves with the requirements.
• Masters should contact theirlocal agents before calling ports in
China to ensure they comply withthe reporting requirement. In caseof any doubt Gard correspondents
can be contacted for clarification.
(Source: gard https://www.gard.
no/web/updates/content/32336035/
reporting-requirements-for-foreignvessels-entering-chinas-territorialsea)

Shipping industry proposes levy to speed up zero carbon future MoU on cargohandling safety
Leading shipping associations
have proposed creating a global
levy on carbon emissions fromships to help speed up the industry’s efforts to go greener.
With about 90% of world tradetransported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of
the world’s CO2 emissions andthe sector is under growing pressure to get cleaner.
For the first time, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)and Intercargo jointly proposed alevy based on mandatory contri-

butions by ships trading globally,
exceeding 5,000 gross tonnage,
for each ton of CO2 emitted.
The money collected would go
into a climate fund that would
be used to deploy bunkering infrastructure in ports around theworld to supply cleaner fuels suchas hydrogen and ammonia, according to the proposal.
“What shipping needs is a truly
global market-based measure likethis that will reduce the price gap
between zero-carbon fuels andconventional fuels,” ICS Secretary

General Guy Platten said.
The proposal was submitted to
the UN body, International Maritime Organization (IMO).
An IMO spokesperson said
all proposals were welcome andwould be up for discussion later
this year, adding that “proposals
on market-based measures are inline with the initial IMO GHG(greenhouse gas) strategy”.
The IMO will hold an intersessional working group meetingscheduled for late October, aheadof a late-November session of the

Marine Environment Protection
Committee, which will address
issues including carbon-reduction
efforts.
The European Commission in
July proposed adding shipping to
the bloc’s carbon market, targeting an industry that had for morethan a decade avoided the EU’s
system of pollution charges.
The ICS said “piecemeal” approaches such as the EU’s proposal would significantly complicate“the conduct of maritime trade”.
(Source: Reuters)

BIMCO sees encouragement to end-user support for added value
Following several recent adjustments and new features, we encourage Shipping-KPI users totake advantage of the complementary support function.
Most companies are set up in the
Shipping-KPI platform shortly after registration. However, shipping
is a dynamic industry. Adjustments
to the company’s Shipping-KPI
profile may be imposed by internalor external factors. The support on
all facilities of the Shipping-KPI
platform is an integrated benefit of

the system.
One of the recent adjustments
to the Shipping-KPI platform includes the introduction of Cost
Categories as a separated group.
Since external benchmarking inthis category requires a significant
accumulation of information, allinvested parties will benefit fromthe submission of data into the system. Due to the limited amount of
information available, cost categories are only available on ship level.
This means users must go to the“My Ships”-section of the website
and select a relevant ship to viewthe group.
For all matters related to thecompany account or user administration, please direct your enquiry
to the BIMCO Shipping-KPI
team: shipping-kpi@bimco.org. If
the enquiry is related to the dayto-day upkeep of the system, datasubmission or other features suchas setting up business units or integrating the Shipping-KPI systemwith other platforms used by yourcompany, please direct your enquiry to the end user support teamusing support@shipping-kpi.org.
Having a streamlined accountset-up on the Shipping-KPI platform will:• Increase the value and in-sights
gained from the platform and thesubmitted data
• Ensure data submissions are
relevant and consistent• Ensure continuous access withmultiple top-level administrators(Source: BIMCO)

New global service combines record keeping with skills, experience
A new global service for seafarers is
set to transform the way the maritime industry records and organises professional experience, using
ship-tracking data to automaticallyrecord voyage details, miles sailed
and port call information.
Called seaV, the platform uses
data driven technology to replace
paper records, autonomously
building a deeper understandingof individual professional experience and talent.
Following a period of beta trials, the app has been released andis available free of charge for both
iPhone and Android users.
As well as tracking live activity,
historical AIS data archives allow
seafarers to generate past information within minutes of downloading the app, creating a complete
digital thread of their seagoingprofessional experience.
seaV’s goal is to become theseafarer’s digital companion, going beyond recruitment and job
hunting and ultimately handlingeverything around record keeping
and qualifications, job hunting,finance, travel and flights.
One of its most important purposes is the community function.
seaV allows users to connect withother crew and share their stories
and experiences both within theapp and through their existing social media channels.
Shore-based colleagues andthe wider maritime community
including friends and family canalso use seaV to follow and engage
with seafarers at work and theships they sail on.
seaV launches at a time whenmany seafarers have been strand-

ed on ships or struggled to returnhome during the pandemic. seaV
allows users to evidence in words
and pictures what is happening,where they have been, how far
they have sailed and how the pandemic has affected them.
seaV has been developed by
British entrepreneurs Will Ellison, a naval architect and marine
consultant, and Ed Brunyee who
partners with industry experts tobuild innovative businesses suchas the industry 4.0 company Samson VT and now seaV.
They previously worked together on a project using AIS
ship tracking data to analyse theflow of commodities, providing aunique perspective on the global
economy.
Their experience of the shipping industry and time develop-

ing innovative uses for ship tracking was the inspiration for seaV.
Will Ellison said: “The pandemic has made it an incrediblychallenging 18 months for seafarers. It’s very important that wehear their stories and seaV canhelp. Seafarers play a critical rolein the global supply chain but
all too often this goes unnoticed
by us, the end consumer, and tosome extent by parts of the shipping industry itself.
“What makes seaV different
from other platforms is that itgoes well beyond just job hunting
and recruitment. Autonomous
data capture requires minimum
input from the user, but gives
them large amounts of rich, interesting content to share with theircolleagues, friends and family.”(Source: seaV)A Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) has been signed by ICHCAInternational, representative ofglobal cargo handling operators,
including many of the leading cargo and container terminal groups,
and the International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association, whose membership consistsof the world’s ocean carriers.
The collaboration of these two
expert bodies will be significant inproducing clearly defined guidelines to best practice in handling
dangerous goods. They will work
closely on joint projects to improve standards across numerous
common safety issues affecting thetransport of dangerous goods.
Association CEO Richard Steelenotes, “The extraordinary disasterin Beirut last August was an all too
unwelcome wake-up call to everyone involved in the transport, storage and distribution of dangerous
materials. However, similar incidents, smaller in proportion, yetdamaging to life and limb as wellas property happen across the supply chain on a frequent basis. The
mutual cooperation of IVODGA
and ICHCA will be aimed at theuniversal understanding and application of measures for the safe
handling and storage of a rangeof goods with potential to cause
explosions, fires and noxious gas
emissions etc.” (Source: ICHCA International
All JApAn SeAmen’S Union
15-26, Roppongi 7-Chome,
Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-0032
Tel.: (03) 5410-8320
Fax: (03) 5410-8336
E-mail: iss@jsu.jp
Internet: http://www.jsu.or.jp
Publisher: Mitsuharu Matsuura
Send inquiries to the attention of
Mr. Hiroyuki Watanabe,
Director, International Dept.