(www.MaritimeCyprus.com)Â Shipowners recognise the importance of shore leave to seafarers. Shore leave can help to mitigate fatigue and reduce stress from long voyages and a long time away from home. Providing access to shore leave can, however, be challenging.
It can be influenced by many factors, including a ship’s schedule, the time spent on a port call, conditions in certain ports and availability of port facilities for seafarers to gain the optimum benefit from shore leave. Lack of shore leave has far-reaching consequences. Not going ashore, or not accessing normal social respite and changes of scenery, can seriously impact seafarers’ mental health.
In addition, it is clear that governmental restrictions imposed to reduce risk of potential infection has had severe consequences on the ability of seafarers to take shore leave when in port.
This document sets out principles for providing shore leave during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and contains information on the international maritime obligations surrounding the provision of shore leave by state authorities and shipowners, and for seafarers.
You can download the guidance document by clicking the below image:
Source:Â ICS
For more guidance and resources on Corona Virus (Covid-19), click HERE.Â
