Legal liabilities paper and covid-19 vaccination leaflet for seafarers and shipping companies

The International Chamber of Shipping has recently published two guides on the issues relating to vaccinating seafarers, providing advice and information to both seafarers and shipping companies.  Being a UK based entity, reference to the law in the first guide is to English law, however the vast majority of the issues should equally relate to New Zealand and most other common law jurisdictions (albeit under different legislation).

The first guide relates to the legal issues relating to the vaccination of seafarers, including the effect of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, in particular ship owner’s responsibility to vaccinate, whether vaccinations can be given onboard and liability in the event of side effects.

The second guide is provides general information on the main Coronavirus vaccines.  The guide covers how the vaccines work, who can be vaccinated as well as trying to assuage the fears of those who equate the speed of their approval solely to shortcuts in ensuring their safety.

The guides can be found on the International Chamber of Shipping website.

Contact Peter Dawson by email peter@maritimelaw.co.nz or on 027 229 9624 if you have any questions regarding Covid-19 and the protection of seafarers.