On February 2021, Polish Shipping Companies Association became the latest signatory Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change. Neptune Declaration is an initiative of the Global Maritime Forum calling to adopt following measures:

• Recognition of seafarers as key workers and giving them priority access to COVID-19 vaccines (per UN General Assembly Resolution from December 1^st, 2020)
• Establishing and implementing gold standard health protocols based on existing practice;
• Increase collaboration between ship operators and charterers to facilitate crew changes

So far over 650 organizations (including European Community Shipowners’ Association or BIMCO among many others) and companies have signed the declaration with more to be announced soon. The declaration is available here.