As the world battles the coronavirus pandemic, the global maritime transport industry is playing a critical role in the response to keep goods moving, says intergovernmental body, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

It emphasises that a call by the global maritime industry to all governments to keep maritime trade moving by allowing commercial ships continued access to ports worldwide and by facilitating the rapid changeover of ships’ crews should not go unheeded.

Around 80% of global trade is transported by commercial shipping, which moves the world’s food, energy and raw materials, as well as manufactured goods and components.

This includes vital medical supplies, which are sorely needed at this time, and items that are necessary for the preservation of many jobs in manufacturing – without which modern society cannot function.

In this time of global crisis, it is more important than ever to keep supply chains open and to allow maritime trade and cross-border transport to continue, says Unctad.

“This means keeping the world’s ports open for ship calls and [facilitating] the movement of ships’ crews with as few obstacles as possible,” Unctad explains.

The intergovernmental body adds that transit needs to be facilitated, too. Landlocked countries need access to food and medical supplies through neighbouring countries’ seaports.

“Shipping and ports hold the world economy together. They connect countries, markets, businesses and people, on a scale not otherwise possible.

“A vast array of goods and commodities are transported by sea to meet the demands of industrial and manufacturing sectors, energy needs, as well as business and consumer requirements.”

These range from raw materials such as coal and iron-ore, oil and gas to manufactured goods of intermediate and finished products carried in containers, Unctad elaborates.

Facing the current pandemic, cross-border movements of relief goods such as food and medical supplies will increase dramatically.

Restrictions on trade and cross-border transport may interrupt necessary aid and technical support. It could disrupt businesses and have negative social and economic effects on the affected countries.

Governments should, therefore, continue to facilitate movement of not only relief goods, but goods in general, to minimise the negative impact of the Covid-19 outbreak.

To ensure that vital goods reach consumers and hospitals in destination countries, responsible agencies should coordinate and cooperate within and among countries so that indispensable goods reach the populations in coastal and landlocked countries alike.

Unctad urges world leaders to embrace the call made by the shipping industry to keep maritime trade moving.

“Support seafarers and port operators, take measured steps. Amid the current outbreak, seafarers have come under increased checks and scrutiny in various ports.

“Many port States have imposed local regulations, travel and quarantine restrictions, precluding free access to seafarers. Some operators have suspended crew changes aboard ships to lessen their social interactions,” the organisation claims.

Unctad recommends that while observing necessary health protocols, ports should treat seafarers as key workers and afford them the same flexibilities currently given to aircrew and health workers in boarding and leaving ships, as about 100 000 shipping crew members need to change shift every month.

Port operators also need to be ready given the potential risks to public health and the economy, if their key role in the transit of goods is affected by the spread of the virus.

Port workers are facing the danger of contracting Covid-19, and many ports are not ready if a critical mass of workers become sick.

In several ports – especially in hard-hit regions like Europe – goods in transit are already affected, and essential medicine and equipment are being held up.

Without functioning ports, cargoes including those with life-saving supplies cannot be transported to where they are needed.

“The G20 leaders have an important opportunity to protect the free movement of all goods by affirming the smooth functioning of their shipping, ports and transit industries.

“All available technological trade and transport facilitation solutions should be used to reduce the burden posed by Covid-19 on maritime and cross-border trade. We cannot afford to compound the health and economic challenge facing us,” Unctad stresses.