In support of the Day of the Seafarer campaign, a webinar on this year (2020) theme "Seafarers are key workers” held online on Thursday 25 June, 2020 by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The webinar addressed the issues seafarers are facing during the pandemic. The webinar specially focused on the contribution of Pakistani fishermen during COVID pandemic.
The Day of the seafarer’s campaign 2020 paid tribute to the seafarers, acknowledging their sacrifice and the issues they face. The campaign encouraged everyone to treat seafarers with the respect and dignity they deserve so that they can continue to provide their vital services to keep world trade moving.
The webinar highlighted the Safety of life at sea (SOLAS) and the required trainings (STCW-F), with special emphasis on Pakistani fishermen and their awareness. Fishermen are mostly neglected in the seafarer’s community. They often seem neither aware of nor willing to admit the risks inherent in their occupation.
“Safety First” is the slogan that the crew-members of any fishing vessel should keep in mind. Appropriate safety measures will save lives, protect vessels from damage, prevent serious injuries, protect the environment, and help maintain the fishing industry in a profitable manner. The owners, operators and captains of all fishing vessels have a responsibility to train their crewmembers on “safety”.
The space available onboard a fishing vessel is far more limited than that of a cargo vessel. The inside of fishing vessels are much more congested as various types of tools, equipment, and machinery that are used in fishing operations, are stored onboard. The allocation of space has a significant impact on the safety of the crew as well as the safety of the fishing vessel.
Well known speakers from International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour Organization (ILO) delivered lectures on the safety of life at sea, STCW-F, and ILO work for fishermen-188.
Representatives from provincial Fisheries Department, NGOs, Universities, Research Organizations and Fishermen Societies attended the webinar.
Federal Secretary Ministry of Maritime Affairs Mr. Rizwan Ahmed addressed the webinar and remarked that the Government is very well aware of all the mandatory requirements for the safety of seafarers especially for fishermen.
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