Jakarta – Indonesia has actually been supporting a number of ASEAN and UN programs for seafarers, who contribute significantly to the nationwide economy, consisting of arrangement of COVID-19 vaccines to them, according to a senior authorities.
” Indonesia concurs that seafarers are essential workers. Beginning with a Joint Statement at the International Maritime Virtual Top on Team Changes on July 9, 2020, Indonesia has actually acknowledged the importance of the function of seafarers as the backbone of the economy,” Capt. Hermanta, director of shipping and maritime affairs at the directorate general of sea transport under the Ministry of Transport, stated in a press statement released here on Saturday.
Hermanta made the remarks while leading the Indonesian delegation at the ‘Intersessional Conversation on Covid 19: Responses of ASEAN Member States to Seafarer Access to Crew Modification, Repatriation, and National Vaccination Programs’, held online and hosted by Thailand on May 27-28, 2021.
The conference was participated in by nine ASEAN countries, 3 discussion partners (FASA, South Korea, and China), along with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the UN’s unique agency.
Indonesia has actually assisted in team modifications and repatriation of seafarers since April 24, 2020, Hermanta said. Up until now, the country has actually helped in crew changes of 6,563 sailors and the return of 57,142 Indonesian migrant workers, he divulged.
He also supplied details on the national vaccination program for seafarers.
” In Indonesia, the vaccination of seafarers is a special issue of the Ministry of Transport. We have coordinated with the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Job Force in the implementation of vaccinations for seafarers, consisting of the vaccination program which will be carried out in the near future,” he said.
The government has set a target of immunizing 15 thousand seafarers by the end of 2021.
Since May 6, 2021, 8,123 vaccine dosages have been administered and 1,487 people have gotten the second COVID-19 shot under the first vaccination program for seafarers.
At the 103 rd conference of the Maritime Security Committee, Indonesia supported the draft resolution on suggestions to prioritize vaccination programs for seafarers.
Members of the Indonesian delegation consisted of authorities from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Financial Investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Transport. (INE)
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