MISC GROUP SIGNS NEPTUNE DECLARATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26  -- MISC Group, comprising of MISC Bhd, AET Pte Ltd and Eaglestar Marine Holdings (L), has signed the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change in a worldwide call to action to end the unprecedented crew change crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

MISC president and group chief executive officer Yee Yang Chien said seafarers had continued moving essential cargoes throughout the entire pandemic to keep the world going. 

“Today, we – MISC, AET and Eaglestar – take a step forward, unified as a signatory to the Neptune Declaration to further intensify our efforts to resolve the dilemma of seafarers being stranded at sea which has greatly affected their physical and mental wellbeing,” he said in a statement today.

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Yee said the group took its role as a signatory with great commitment as it was vital to ensure the sustainability of the entire maritime value chain.

“We are confident of arriving at solutions to resolve the long-standing issues and we know that the Neptune Declaration will bring forward a positive impact,” he added. 

MISC Group is joining forces with over 300 companies and organisations to help resolve a humanitarian crisis on the world’s ocean.

The Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change defines four main actions to facilitate crew changes and keep global supply chains functioning, including recognising seafarers as key workers and give them priority access to COVID-19 vaccines as well as ensuring air connectivity between key maritime hubs for seafarers.

The other actions are to establish and implement gold standard health protocols based on existing best practice and to increase collaboration between ship operators and charterers to facilitate crew changes.  

-- BERNAMA