Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the International Maritime Organisation on the (a) welfare of merchant mariners and (b) measures to repatriate them safely during the covid-19 pandemic.

I wrote to the International Maritime Organization on 23 March setting out the UK position in regard seafarer welfare and to reassure the IMO that the UK continues to recognise our international obligations in regard the transit and transfer of seafarers.

The UK is currently considering IMO protocols to facilitate crew changes to ascertain what other measures the UK could implement. We also continue to work with and share best practice with other administrations.