ICS issues Covid19 Guidelines for Vaccination of Seafarers

05  April 2021 |  C21008

ICS has published two guidelines for Legal, Liability and Insurance Issues related to the Vaccination of Seafarers as well as a Practical Guide for this issue.

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators | Surveyors / Auditors

There have been over 100 million cases of COVID-19 and more than two million COVID-19 deaths recorded worldwide. To date, nearly 200 million people have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has release two different Guidelines concerning the legal, liability and insurance issues related to the Vaccination of Seafarers as well as a Practical Guide for their Vaccination.

Legal, Liability and Insurance Issues arising from Vaccination of Seafarers

The Guidance addresses legal, liability and insurance issues that could potentially arise for shipowners from or in connection with vaccinations of crew for coronavirus (COVID-19).

It considers questions that have been raised, such as:

• whether and under what conditions a shipowner can require crew to have vaccination;
• what vaccines may be safely given; and
• what might be the potential liabilities for shipowners in requiring crew to be vaccinated.

It provides guidance on best employment practice to protect against such liabilities and information on insurance cover for such liabilities under the shipowner’s standard Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance.

Vaccination for Seafarers and Shipping Companies: A Practical Guide

The Guide provides a valuable list of Q&As, such as:

• Are vaccines safe;
• Who can have the COVID-19 vaccines;
• Are there any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine;
• Is the vaccine effective against the new mutations of the virus; etc.

Act now

Ship Owners / Managers / Operators should take into consideration the above guidelines. Physical distancing, washing hands with soap and water or the use of hand sanitiser, good respiratory hygiene, and use of a mask remain the main methods to prevent spread of COVID-19, even after vaccination.