In his opening speech of virtual 10th annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum, Lim pointed out that industry bodies have worked together to create a set of 12 protocols to ensure safe changes to the crew. These had been endorsed by the IMO itself and was sponsored by Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres himself, he recalled last week.

"This cannot wait.“This is now a real safety issue, endangering the safe operation of ships. We cannot expect seafarers to stay at sea forever,” Lim stated. 

“Governments must allow shipping to continue moving by getting seafarers to their homes, and to their ships to work,” he added.

Drawing hopeful from the pandemic, Lim continued to embrace the developments in technological uses and a clear spirit of cooperation that has been visible in recent weeks.

Maritime Business World