The Panama Canal is feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic with a substantial drop in ships transit in April and May, Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez, said in a virtual forum organised by a local newspaper.
The COVID-19 pandemic is projected to lead to an “unprecedented decline” in world container trade, according to Clarksons Research director Trevor Crowe.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has raised the alarm on an increasing number of seriously ill seafarers being denied medical evacuation or access to ports during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The heads of UN agencies for maritime, labour and aviation have issued a joint urgent call for action on crew changes and designating seafarers and air workers as key workers.