Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Note from the Managing Director (30 March 2020) 
We continue to closely monitor developments and guidance from governments and public health authorities. As a result, our offices remain closed and all staff are working from home until further notice. You can reach us by email and phone as normal as all desk phone extensions have been redirected.

INTERTANKO meetings
As highlighted last week, we have postponed all physical Committee and Panel meetings until restrictions are lifted, including unfortunately our Annual Tanker Event in June in Oslo. However with the support of Members, we are starting to run successful virtual meetings, to ensure the work of our various bodies does not get delayed unduly.

The first larger scale event was held last week, when nearly 60 Members logged into the European Panel Webinar. Mindful of Members added Covid 19 focus and workload, we have shortened and restructured all spring regional panel meetings, highlighting urgent and important issues surrounding the pandemic and ongoing challenges arising from the implementation of the 2020 Sulphur Regulations.

We are also trying hard to maintain relevant regional content, such as the ‘European Update’ last week and the traditional intervention from USCG at the North American Panel tomorrow. Your feedback and ideas on this are very welcome and you can register to attend any of the upcoming meetings via our event calendar online. You can also indicate your interest to be included in direct invitations through your website profile by logging into www.intertanko.com.

Member Services
The Secretariat continues to work hard at supporting Members with both industry and individual challenges. From getting seafarers recognised as key workers by the UN and country governments, trying to facilitate crew changes; to assisting with getting medical support for an on board injury stalled by Covid restrictions, your priorities are our priorities.

There is frenzied activity behind the scenes to push and coordinate actions with IMO, WHO, ILO, ITF, the EC, national and sectoral shipping associations, Port state control MOUs, coastal and Flag States, as well as other stakeholders such as Class, Insurers, OCIMF, CDI etc. Today (Monday, 30 March) alone we have issued updates relevant to:

• OCIMF, CDI and BP’s policies
• crew change procedures in Singapore
• the USCG Marine Safety Information Bulletin 09-20 on “Vessel Inspections, Exams, and Documentation”, and
• the updated UK MCA MIN 612 “MCA approach on Survey and Certifications” Flag State Notice

Later this week, we will also distribute a model Outbreak Management Plan.

These developments and information received, often with the additional assistance from Members and our fantastic network of Associate Members is updated and added to the COVID information centre (this page) on our website. Information collated covers the following topics and continues to expand with Members input.

• Crew changes and the ship shore interface
• OCIMF and CDI inspections and charterers  [View Q&A]
• Port State and Flag Administrations: Surveys and Certification slippage  [View Q&A]
• Ship building and repair yards  [View Q&A]
• Charterparty and other contractual issues  [View Q&A]

Please do continue to propose additional lines of activity to assist Members during this crisis. We are doing our utmost to provide useful, useable support and to bring the weight of your combined membership to bear on international decision making, protecting your operations and interests.

Kathi Stanzel

(Katharina.stanzel@intertanko.com)