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# Letter of Commissioners Daniel Maffei and Louis Sola to President Joe Biden

Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel B. Maffei and Commissioner Louis E. Sola wrote the President on October 22, 2021 urging that “A Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic” contain an exemption for unvaccinated seafarers entering the United States to join a ship.

Text of the letter:

*Dear Mr. President:**As our Nation begins to emerge from the pandemic and reopen international travel, we wish to**underscore the importance of preventing unnecessary barriers to maritime commerce. Like many**Americans, we welcomed the Administration’s announcement to open land and air travel to**arriving, fully vaccinated foreign nationals beginning on November 8. However, it is notable that**maritime arrivals were not addressed in the announcement and that there is no clear exemption**for seafarers, including those seafarers arriving to the United States by air travel. We note that all**previous COVID-19 related proclamations included an exemption for seafarers. Some seafarers**arriving at United States ports are receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations and then undergoing**an additional quarantine period aboard their ship. Accordingly, it is our specific request that the**forthcoming guidance related to the November 8 reopening of international travel to the United**States contain a provision similar to those in prior Presidential Proclamations, continuing to**afford seafarers in transit an exemption from vaccination.*

*The maritime industry is committed to protecting the health and safety of the seafarers working**aboard their ships, and that includes adopting rigorous vaccination and other health standards.**The international nature of maritime commerce and the reality of vaccine supply challenges in**many parts of the world have limited the ability of many seafarers to become vaccinated in their**home countries. If seafarers are prevented from coming to the United States, including to**perform necessary crew changes, maritime commerce would be further strained, and already**serious supply chain issues would be further exacerbated.*

*We appreciate your consideration of our concern and encourage the Administration to clarify the**new travel requirements for seafarers, maintaining the prior exemption in the context of the new**guidance. As always, we stand ready to work with you to address these issues expeditiously.**Respectfully,*

*Daniel B. Maffei**Chairman*

*Louis E. Sola**Commissioner*

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*Daniel B. Maffei and Louis E. Sola are Commissioners with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The thoughts and comments expressed here are their own and do not necessarily represent the position of the Commission.*

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