The Cyprus Shipping Chamber noted with satisfaction the joint statement
signed by the heads of five United Nation bodies, on 25
March 2021, which calls on all Governments to prioritize Seafarers in their
national COVID-19 vaccination programmes, together with other essential
workers, saying that their safe movement is essential to critical goods
movement and travel on which the global economy depends for recovery.
The Shipping Industry kept supply chains open and maritime trade moving
during the pandemic. Seafarers and maritime personnel ashore played a key role in
the undisrupted delivery of shipments to countries in times of need.
Considering that they are the essential workers who will deliver among other
goods, some of the vaccines or storage for the preservation of the vaccines, we
need to ensure their safety by including seafarers and other travelling essential maritime
personnel in the early vaccinations of the Cyprus COVID-19 Vaccination
Programme, in order to continue their work.
The Cyprus Shipping Chamber urges the
Cyprus Government to proceed with the earliest vaccinations of Cypriot resident
seafarers and cadets, shipping companies’ superintendents and key personnel in
the Cyprus ports, to safeguard the Shipping Industry’s contribution to the
Cyprus Economy and Society.