Global Health Emergency Guide: Helping Shipping Companies Prepare, Act and Recover - First Editon

The ICS Global Health Emergency Guide Helping Shipping Companies Prepare, Act and Recover provides a comprehensive and practical framework for shipping companies to get ahead and prepare for any future global health emergency. Drawing on lessons learned from Covid-19 and other global health emergencies that have affected shipping operations, this guide sets out a step-by-step action plan that can be implemented within the safety management system and incorporated into the company crisis management plan.

With extensive insights from global agencies, shipping companies, crews, medical professionals and welfare organisations, this guide allows companies to prepare for, act on, and return to normal operations after, a global health emergency.

Content includes:

• Roles and responsibilities for all ship and shore teams, including crewing, crisis management and communication teams
• Seafarer health and wellness and supporting crew?s mental health
• Reducing risk of an outbreak on board
• Crew change protocols for crewing and for seafarers
• Procedures in the event of an outbreak in port and at sea
• Access to medical care on board and at port
• Emergency communications planning
• Re-assessing protocols and implementing lessons learned after a global health emergency
• Maintaining compliance with international regulations, including the WHO International Health Regulations 2005, the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and the FAL Convention

Each part (before, during and after) comes with a handy toolkit of more than 30 checklists, posters, templates and forms to help companies practically implement these protocols into their safety management system and deliver on their crisis management plan in the event of an outbreak. The guide can be used across all shipping company departments on shore and on board, and encompasses all stages of emergency response.

Benefits to buying the guide:

• Be proactive - get ahead and integrate the guide into your safety management system and crisis management plan
• Ensure business continuity
• Support seafarers during times of high stress

Global health emergencies test our resilience, adaptability and capacity to thrive. The maritime industry did not stop operating during the Covid-19 pandemic despite the world?s disrupted economies and strained healthcare systems.

It is essential for the maritime industry to continue operating through any global health emergency, ensuring that goods and services are brought to those that require them. To do so, shipping companies must have the necessary knowledge, tools and strategies ahead of these crises. This preparation enables the entire industry to properly plan for, respond to and recover from a global health emergency.

The Global Health Emergency Guide offers comprehensive guidance that covers all aspects of crisis management, including the early signs of an emerging global health emergency, ensuring necessary resources reach ships, safeguarding persons on board and the importance of communication between all stakeholders.

The Global Health Emergency Guide is divided into three parts:

• Part 1: Preparations for a future global health emergency;
• Part 2: Actions during a global health emergency; and
• Part 3: Recovery after a global health emergency.

Each part is further divided into chapters specific to shore-side staff, seafarers and toolkits containing useful checklists, templates and posters. The intention of this Guide?s organisation is as follows:

• Part 1 should be reviewed during normal operations and this guidance should be considered for inclusion in the company's Safety Management System (SMS);
• Part 2 should be reviewed and implemented into operating procedures during a global health emergency, as appropriate, so that the ship can maintain operations and keep seafarers safe; and
• Part 3 should be reviewed after a global health emergency to help the company assess what went well when handling the emergency and what needs improvement.

A standalone chapter is dedicated to seafarer health and wellness to highlight the strain that global health emergencies place on individuals.

In writing this Guide, a review group was formed of medical professionals, shipping company representatives and other maritime NGO employees. These representatives considered how to plan for a global health emergency where the symptoms, transmission method, effects or treatments are unknown. Drawing from the invaluable lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic and other global health emergencies, such as SARS, Ebola and Zika virus, this ICS Guide highlights trends from these crises and the actions taken by different stakeholders, including what worked well and what required improvement.

Some information is duplicated between chapters, to help readers who might read one section in isolation, rather than read the entire Guide from first page to last.

Abbreviations
Definitions
Editorial notes

Chapter 1
Overview of global health emergencies
1 Overview of global health emergencies
1.1 What is a global health emergency?
1.2 Lessons learned from previous health emergencies
1.3 The new normal for the shipping industry
1.3.1 Treating seafarers as key workers
1.3.2 Digitalisation
1.4 The WHO International Health Regulations 2005
1.5 Pandemics, the IMO MLC, and the WHO International Health Regulations 2005
1.5.1 Comparisons between the MLC and the WHO International Health Regulations 2005
1.5.2 Member states? responsibilities under the MLC for global health emergencies
1.5.3 Company responsibilities under the MLC for global health emergencies

Chapter 2
Seafarer health and wellness
2 Seafarer health and wellness
2.1 Sanitary etiquette on board
2.1.1 Hand washing
2.1.2 Coughs and sneezes
2.1.3 Good hygiene measures while travelling
2.2 Seafarers? mental health
2.2.1 Employers? responsibilities for mental health
2.2.2 Offering and providing support
2.2.3 Organisations which can offer support

PART 1
Preparations for a future global health emergency

Chapter 3
Shore-side preparation
3 Shore-side preparation
3.1 Crisis management planning
3.2 Reviewing policies in the SMS
3.3 Keeping ship and shore personnel safe
3.3.1 The SMS and infection control
3.3.2 Shore-based service providers and infection control
3.4 Pre-joining checks
3.4.1 Crewing agent and/or employer responsibilities
3.4.2 Shipowner responsibilities
3.4.3 Seafarer responsibilities
3.5 Safe seafarer travel
3.5.1 Booking crew travel
3.5.2 Guidance for seafarers when travelling
3.6 Crew change templates
3.6.1 Crew change travel templates
3.6.2 Port travel templates for crew changes
3.7 Ship sanitation certificates
3.7.1 Port authority responsibilities
3.8 Crisis communications strategy
3.9 Social media policy
3.10 Establishing procedures for contacting the seafarer's designated contact in an emergency

Chapter 4
Shipboard preparation
4 Shipboard preparation
4.1 Measures to reduce risks on board
4.1.1 Ship sanitation certificates and inspections
4.1.2 Staying safe while travelling
4.1.3 Embarkation of crew and passengers
4.1.4 Hygiene measures to be adopted on board
4.1.5 Medical equipment to be kept on board
4.1.6 Disembarkation of crew and passengers
4.2 Seafarer vaccination checks
4.3 Keeping ship and shore personnel safe
4.3.1 The ship and shore interface
4.4 Care when ashore
4.4.1 Seafarers' centres
4.4.2 Good hygiene practices ashore

Chapter 5
Pre-global health emergency toolkit
5 Pre-global health emergency toolkit
Form 5A Medical equipment to be carried on board checklist
Form 5B Screening questionnaire prior to boarding template
Form 5C Employer letter template
Form 5D Crew change and travel information template
Form 5E Seafarer designated contact template
Form 5F Pre-arrival checklist
Form 5G Documentation to be sent before a ship sanitation inspection checklist
Form 5H Example of a shipboard infection control standard operating procedure
Form 5I Template of ship sanitation control exemption certificate / ship sanitation
control certificate
Form 5J Maritime declaration of health template
Form 5K Crew health declaration for port entry template
Form 5L Daily crew temperature check template
Form 5M Poster on how to wash your hands
Form 5N Poster on how to cope with stress during an outbreak
Form 5O Poster of safe travel procedures for seafarers during an outbreak
Form 5P Poster on how to protect yourself and others after coughing or sneezing
during an outbreak
Form 5Q Poster on dealing with laundry of infected or non-infected crew or passengers during an outbreak
Form 5R Poster of good hygiene practices when greeting others during an outbreak

PART 2
Actions during a global health emergency

Chapter 6
Shore-side actions
6 Shore-side actions
6.1 The WHO International Health Regulations 2005 and how they can affect shipping
6.2 Responsibilities in the event of an outbreak
6.2.1 Ensuring clearance is received
6.3 Procedures in the event of an outbreak at sea
6.4 Procedures in the event of an outbreak in port
6.4.1 Maritime declaration of health
6.4.2 Considerations by the port authority for seafarer shore leave
6.4.3 Considerations by the shipowner for seafarer shore leave
6.5 Managing safe crew changes
6.5.1 Requirements of shipping companies arranging seafarer travel
6.6 Managing ship and seafarer documentation
6.7 Crew member vaccinations
6.7.1 Considerations for vaccinating crew
6.7.2 Legal liability and insurance issues arising from vaccination of seafarers
6.8 Sick crew members and passengers
6.8.1 Isolation of sick crew members and passengers
6.8.2 Medical treatment in port
6.8.3 Repatriation
6.9 Internal communications during an outbreak
6.10 Media relations during an outbreak
6.10.1 Communications with the press
6.10.2 Use of social media
6.11 Informing the designated contact
6.11.1 Making contact
6.12 Deaths on board
6.12.1 Contacting the designated contact
6.13 Protocols to prevent seafarer abandonments
6.13.1 Shipowner obligations
6.13.2 Port state obligations
6.13.3 Flag state obligations
6.13.4 Labour supply states

Chapter 7
Shipboard actions
7 Shipboard actions
7.1 Procedures in the event of an outbreak
7.1.1 Port entry restrictions
7.1.2 Transiting ships
7.1.3 Outbreaks in port
7.2 Keeping safe on board
7.2.1 Managing the ship/shore interface during an outbreak
7.3 Accessing medical care in port
7.3.1 Medical care in port
7.3.2 Medical repatriation
7.4 Protocols for joining and leaving a ship
7.5 Isolation of crew members on joining the ship
7.6 Decision making for on board or confirmed case
7.7 Care of sick crew and passengers during an outbreak
7.7.1 Patient care
7.7.2 PPE for crew members dealing with infected people
7.7.3 Dealing with contaminated laundry and furnishings
7.7.4 Dealing with contaminated hard surfaces
7.7.5 Identification of contacts
7.8 Crew member mental health during an outbreak
7.9 Sector-specific guidance
7.9.1 Tankers
7.9.2 Cruise ships
7.9.3 Offshore industry
7.10 Deaths on board
7.10.1 Establishing a cause of death
7.10.2 Procedure after a death on board
7.10.3 Storing a body until disembarkation in port
7.10.4 Family and crew concerns
7.10.5 Religious practices

Chapter 8
During a global health emergency toolkit
8 During a global health emergency toolkit
Form 8A Considerations before any internal or external communications are released
Form 8B Informing the designated contact checklist
Form 8C Deaths on board checklist
Form 8D Crew health declaration template
Form 8E Daily crew temperature check template
Form 8F First call or visit template
Form 8G Employer letter template
Form 8H Second and subsequent call or visit template
Form 8I Designated contact call log template
Form 8J Bridge and accommodation disinfection list for pilot and/or visitor embarkation and disembarkation
Form 8K Dead body comments template
Form 8L Preparing a dead body for storage checklist
Form 8M Measures to support mental wellbeing during an outbreak
Form 8N Poster on how to cope with stress during an outbreak
Form 8O Post of suicide warning signs

PART 3
Recovery after a global health emergency

Chapter 9
Getting shipping operations back to normal
9 Getting shipping operations back to normal
9.1 Re-assessing protocols and lessons learned
9.1.1 Assessing protocols for shipping companies
9.1.2 Assessing protocols on board
9.2 Helping employees get ?back to normal?
9.3 Managing safe interactions after an outbreak
9.3.1 Managing safe interactions on the ship
9.3.2 Managing safe travel
9.3.3 Managing safe interactions in the office
9.4 Employee assistance programmes
9.5 Follow ups and replenishing supplies
9.6 The impact on seafarer education and training
9.6.1 The impact on academic schedules
9.6.2 The impact on cadet berths and on board training

Chapter 10
Post-global health emergency toolkit
10 Post-global health emergency toolkit
Form 10A Managing safe interactions on board checklist
Form 10B Managing safe travel checklist
Form 10C Managing safe interactions in the office checklist
Form 10D Example of a company sickness and absence policy
Form 10E Return to work survey template
Form 10F Recruitment poster for a career at sea

References

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for the shipping industry, representing shipowners and operators in all sectors and trades. ICS membership comprises national shipowners' associations in Asia, Europe and the Americas whose member shipping companies operate over 80% of the world's merchant tonnage.

Established in 1921, ICS is concerned with all technical, legal, employment affairs and policy issues that may affect international shipping.

ICS represents shipowners with the various intergovernmental regulatory bodies that impact on shipping, including the International Maritime Organization.

ICS also develops best practices and guidance, including a wide range of publications and free resources that are used by ship operators globally.

https://www.ics-shipping.org/about-ics/