The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) issued new guidance after what it called "alarming" reports of seriously ill seafarers being denied medical evacuation or access to ports.
The ICS hopes the advice will reassure governments that they can provide emergency assistance to vessels and seafarers as required under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) amid coronavirus concerns.
The guidance comes after the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) complained in April that over a four-day period, local authorities in Indonesia repeatedly rejected appeals for emergency medical assistance for a seafarer who...
