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More than 200,000 seafarers stranded due to Covid-19 pandemic: International Maritime Organisation

SINGAPORE – More than 200,000 seafarers worldwide are either still stranded on ships or waiting to board them as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Kitack Lim said on Friday (April 23).

While things have gotten better since the start of the year, these maritime workers, who do not have the luxury of working from home, need to be recognised as key workers and be vaccinated so they can move across borders, he added.

At the same time, Mr Lim said their plight should also motivate the industry to do more to digitalise their operations. This, in turn, will make shipping more efficient and reduce both unnecessary wait time and emissions.

“Seafarers cannot work from home, unlike many of us who have seen the benefits of technology or remote work. Shipping needs digitalisation,” he said.

Mr Lim was speaking virtually on Friday at the opening of the IMO-Singapore Future of Shipping Conference, where more than 450 registered delegates discussed ways to decarbonise the industry.

The event falls on the last day of the 15th Singapore Maritime Week, which is themed around decarbonisation, digitalisation and talent attraction.

Participants, who include shipping company chief executive officers, engineers, researchers and port operators, discussed how best to transition from conventional marine fuels to zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.

Although these are not yet commercially viable, IMO targets aim to cut the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050 and achieve net zero as soon as possible within the century.

The shipping sector currently accounts for 2 per cent to 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Calling the fight against climate change “the challenge of our time”, Mr Lim said: “We all have a part to play in addressing challenges… to keep pace with the demands of the global economy and the expectations for sustainable growth. The maritime world needs to be at the forefront of transformational change.”

He added: “We need to facilitate decarbonisation and enhance digitalisation for safer, more environmentally friendly and efficient shipping.”

He took the chance to advocate for a single digital portal through which all vessel-related transactions at ports can be processed – a new way of operations IMO is pushing for.

He said a committee is working on an IMO convention to make use of such portals compulsory. “The challenge is to ensure it is fully implemented across all nations and all ports… Preparation for this is essential,” he said.

Singapore recently launched a trial of such a system called digitalPORT @ SG phase two. It gives users real-time updates on ships’ estimated arrival and departure times as well as their port activities.

With the aid of the system, ships will no longer have to rush to wait at ports for their turn. Scheduling will be tighter and services like bunkering can be effectively deployed on time.

Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said in a pre-recorded message that Singapore will partner the IMO in helping developing countries digitise their port clearance processes.

“The merits of a maritime single window are inherently constrained if only adopted at one port… Last month, the IMO invited interested member states to apply to participate, and a suitable pilot country will be selected soon,” he said.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Shipping Association and non-profit organisation Global Compact Network Singapore will also jointly train the industry in carbon accounting, as well as managing and lowering emissions.

Published : April 24, 2021

By : Clement Yong/The Straits Times/ANN

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Suga: Japan to reduce greenhouse gases by 46% by FY30

The Leaders Summit on Climate convened by the United States started online on Thursday morning (Thursday night Japan time) with the participation of leaders from 40 countries and regions. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga revealed a new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by fiscal 2030 compared with fiscal 2013 levels, and other world leaders also expressed their determination to tackle global warming.

U.S. President Joe Biden said that the United States would “cut greenhouse gases in half by the end of this decade,” based on 2005 levels, while Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out measures China has taken.

Suga said in his speech at the virtual summit meeting: “[Japan] will aim to reduce greenhouse gases by 46% in fiscal 2030 compared to fiscal 2013, and continue our challenge of reaching the goal of a 50% reduction.”

The new target is significantly higher than the previous target of a 26% reduction based on fiscal 2013 levels.

Suga said: “It definitely will not be easy. By setting a high, ambitious target, Japan would like to take the initiative in the worldwide push for decarbonization.”

To achieve the goal, Suga said Japan would maximize the utilization of decarbonized power sources such as renewable energy and provide sufficient stimulus measures to encourage companies to make investments in the field.

“Decarbonization in the world can never be achieved by one country alone. The international community must tackle the issue in unison,” he said, calling for cooperation from the participating countries.

On Thursday evening, ahead of the summit meeting, Suga unveiled the new target at a meeting of the Global Warming Prevention Headquarters held at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Suga announced the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 in his policy speech at the extraordinary Diet session in October.

The government had been working on a new 2030 target since then.

To achieve the new target, the government aims to expand the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

The Strategic Energy Plan compiled in 2018 stipulates that renewable energy should account for 22-24% of the energy mix in fiscal 2030. The government is now coordinating efforts to increase the ratio in a revised plan scheduled to be unveiled this summer.

Published : April 24, 2021

By : The Japan News/ANN

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Wang: ASEAN meet to help with Myanmar soft landing

BEIJING – Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday exchanged views on the Myanmar situation in telephone conversations with Don Pramudwinai, Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and Erywan bin Pehin Yusof, second minister of foreign affairs of Brunei, the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Noting that the forthcoming special meeting of ASEAN leaders is timely and important, Wang said the Chinese side expects the meeting to play a constructive role in deescalating the Myanmar situation, send out positive messages and be conducive in three respects:

Firstly, the meeting should be conducive to promoting political reconciliation in Myanmar. Whether the Myanmar issue can be properly resolved mainly depends on the country itself, Wang said, adding that the way out is for all parties of Myanmar to seek new understanding through political dialogues within the constitutional and legal framework and continue pushing forward the hard-won democratic transition.

The Chinese side, Wang said, hopes that the meeting can encourage the Myanmar side to put first the overall interests of the country and the people, and send out signals on peaceful reconciliation, with all concerned parties exercising restraint and moving toward each other.

Secondly, the meeting should be conducive to showing ASEAN’s constructive role. Since Myanmar is a member of the ASEAN family, ASEAN knows better than any other countries and regional organizations the special national situation of Myanmar, and has better conditions to participate in its problem-solving in a constructive way, Wang noted.

China expects that ASEAN will stick to the “ASEAN way” featuring unity, inclusiveness and consensus through consultations, build unified ground and make a common voice, so as to further demonstrate to the international community that ASEAN has enough political wisdom and collective will to provide Myanmar with constructive assistance, and has enough political courage to safeguard regional peace and stability, as well as the bloc’s solidarity and cooperation, Wang said.

Thirdly, he pointed out that the meeting should be conducive to fending off external interference. Practice has shown that wanton suppression of external forces makes no contribution to solving problems of a country’s internal affairs. Instead, it would bring turbulence and even deteriorate the situation, further affecting and disrupting regional stability.

China calls on the international community, with an objective and impartial attitude, to do more things to relieve the tense situation in Myanmar, instead of the contrary. At present, the international community should jointly support ASEAN to play its due role in this aspect, he said.

China expects this meeting to make a good start for the “soft landing” of the situation in Myanmar, Wang said, adding that China will continue to support Brunei in fulfilling its duties as the rotating chair of ASEAN, and believes that Thailand, Brunei and other ASEAN countries will play important and unique roles in making the meeting a success.

China will maintain close communication with ASEAN and continue to work with all parties in Myanmar in its own way, Wang said.

Published : April 24, 2021

By : China Daily/ANN

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China ready to strengthen vaccine cooperation with Thailand: FM

BEIJING — China is ready to strengthen vaccine cooperation with Thailand and help the Southeast Asian country completely beat the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday.

Wang made the remarks in a phone conversation with Don Pramudwinai, Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

Describing the China-Thailand relationship as close as one family, Wang said under the high-level strategic guidance of the two countries, bilateral ties have overcome the impact of the pandemic and maintained a momentum of growing from strength to strength.

As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China is embarking on a new journey of development and revitalization, Wang said, adding that Thailand will also usher in new development in the post-pandemic era.

China is willing to work together with Thailand in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and inject fresh impetus into the economic development of the two countries and the whole region at large, Wang said.

Noting that this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Wang said that in this important year of building on past successes to further advance bilateral relations, China is ready to work with ASEAN to draw on the successful experience over the past 30 years and work out plans for bilateral cooperation in the post-pandemic era so as to elevate China-ASEAN relations to a new level.

For his part, Don said that Thailand and China, as good friends and good relatives alike, have long enjoyed mutual understanding and support.

Don thanked China for offering valuable support and sincere assistance to Thailand in its fight against the pandemic and voiced hope that the two sides will continue to strengthen cooperation on epidemic prevention and control.

Thailand, Don said, stands ready to take the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations as an opportunity to push for new progress in ASEAN-China relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Myanmar.

Published : April 24, 2021

By : THE NATION

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Asean hopes to set up Humanitarian Task Force for Myanmar

The proposal to set up an Asean Humanitarian Task Force will be tabled before the bloc leaders at a Special Summit on Saturday April 24, with Myanmar expecting to be its immediate destination if approved, according to diplomatic sources.

All excepted two – The Philippines and Thailand – Asean leaders will be presented in Jakarta, which has initiated the Special Summit in wake of the crisis in Myanmar. The latter will be represented by coup leader Gen Mon Aung Hliang who will deliver a 5-minute remark in a two-hour tightly calibrated programme.

The Special Summit is being closely watched around the world with Asean’s reputation on the line in its role to bring an end to violence and instability in Myanmar. The coup, which took place in early February, has led street protests nationwide and resulted in 730 killed, 3,300 in detention; and according to the UN, almost 250,000 people displaced.

China issued a statement Thursday welcoming the Asean Special Summit. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China hopes the meeting will help to promote Myanmar’s “domestic political reconciliation”; while Asean can provide constructive assistance and bring about easing of tension.

In an interview with the Jakarta Post, Evan Laksmana of Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Indonesia has been seeking a “humanitarian pause” that would bring an end to the violence so that aid can be facilitated by Asean. And if a dialog can be restarted among the stakeholders, it would be the best-case scenario, he said.

CSIS has also proposed humanitarian aids in the form of medical assistance, Covid-19 relief and delivery of basic necessities to the Myanmar people. These activities would be carried out by the Asean Humanitarian Task Force operating with a special Asean fund to be agreed upon at the Special Summit.

Diplomatic sources in Bangkok said despite the absence of the Thai Prime Minister at the Special Summit, Thailand has continued to try and build “trust” with the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s term for military, because such is needed if the Jakarta’s meeting is to make headway on “humanitarian pause, humanitarian work and humanitarian space”.

Pandits in Yangon said Mon Aung Hliang is likely to spend his 5-min speech explaining reasons behind the coup, and if any acceptance of the Asean proposal is to be made it would not be those which will involve anything from the West or any dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy now in detention.

Xinhua news agency in its report stated that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted that Asean’s engagement with Myanmar will help “avoid improper intervention outside the territory. “Practice has proved that blindly exerting pressure by foreign forces will not help solve a country’s internal problem, but will bring turbulence or even deterioration to the situation, which will affect and destabilize the region”.

The CSIS proposals underline the importance of “Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned, dislogue process involving all key stakeholders”.

Yi also held phone talks with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, who will be attending the Jakarta summit; as well as Erywan bin Pehin Yusof, second minister of foreign affairs or Brunei, the rotating chair of Asean, according to Xinhua.

The Asean Leaders’ Meeting as it is officially called, will start at 1330 hours Jakarta time. Three topics will be discussed covering Asean Community Building, External Relations, and Exchange of Views on Regional and International Issues.

Mon Aung Hliang is scheduled to speak first on the third topic, followed by Cambodia as the incoming chair. Cambodia is represented by Prime Minister Hun Sen. The meeting is scheduled to end at 1530.

Published : April 23, 2021

By : Pana Janviroj Asia News Network

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Sailors on missing KRI Nanggala submarine have oxygen until Saturday

The sailors aboard a missing Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala-402 have enough oxygen to last until Saturday, the Navy chief of staff Adm. Yudo Margono said on Thursday, while its Indonesian Military commander said the vessel was in good condition and battle-ready.

The defence officials were speaking at a news conference a day after the 44-year-old submarine went missing while conducting a torpedo drill north of the island of Bali.

The chief of staff said weather conditions for the search and rescue efforts were calm. “The submarine’s oxygen reserve capacity in a blackout is 72 hours,” Yudo told reporters.

“There’s time until Saturday around 3:00 am. Let’s hope we can find them before then.” However, defense analysts have warned that the vessel could have broken into pieces if it had sunk to depths believed to be as much as 700 metres (2,300 feet).

Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said initial reports raised the prospect of “a terrible tragedy”. The German-built submarine was scheduled to conduct live torpedo exercises when it asked for permission to dive. It lost contact shortly after.

Navy spokesman First Adm. Julius Widjojono said Thursday that search teams were focused on an area around the oil slick, but that the exact location of the vessel had yet to be pinpointed.

Six warships and a helicopter have been sent to look for the sub, the navy said.

Photo credit: Pusat Penerangan TNI

Published : April 23, 2021

By : The Jakarta Post/ANN

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Bangkok tackles complaints on Covid-19 hotline as thousands call every day

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to overhaul its 1669 Covid-19 hotline following complaints from people unable to reach the staff.

The hotline aims to provide information relating to Covid-19 as well as serves as an emergency call centre for those in need of medical attention or ambulance.

“Currently the 1669 hotline has staff working three shifts to answer inquiries around the clock,” Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang said on Thursday. “However, since the new wave in March, up to 3,500 people have been calling daily. Callers who exceed our capacity will have to wait for their turn, and if they hang up and dial in again, they will be put at the end of the queue. This has resulted in many people complaining that the line was never available.”

The governor added that the BMA was planning to make some changes to the calling system by letting people leave their names and numbers, so that the staff could call back when they are available. This would eliminate the need for people to wait for their turn.

“We will also add more staff and lines, as well as an automatic voice system to let people know of their queue status,” he added.

Aswin added that the BMA would increase medical staff responsible for transporting patients from their residences to available hospitals to reduce the number of patients left at home.

“In the early phase, we will move some of the staff on night shift to work on day shift from 8am to 4pm, which is the period when more people require medical services,” he said. “Then, we will increase the ambulances as well as their trips per day to make sure that no patients are left at home.

“The Erawan 2 field hospital at Bangkok Arena Sports Centre in Nong Chok district will open on April 23, which should accommodate more patients who have non-severe symptoms,” added Aswin.

Published : April 23, 2021

By : THE NATION

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Covid-19 measures for foreign workers in Spore to be tightened after Westlite Woodlands dorm cases

SINGAPORE – Covid-19 safeguards for migrant workers will be tightened from Friday (April 23), after a new cluster of cases was detected at the Westlite Woodlands dormitory earlier this week.

The multi-ministry task force said on Thursday (April 22) that this is to prevent potential “leaks” – involving new variants of the virus from Indian workers who have just arrived – into the migrant worker dormitories, though it stressed that there is no evidence that the recent cases at Westlite Woodlands are linked to the new Covid-19 strain from India.

All newly arrived migrant workers from higher-risk countries and regions, including those with a positive serology result, will now have to serve the full 14 days of their stay-home notice (SHN) period at a dedicated facility, Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said on Thursday.

After clearing a Covid-19 test, they will be sent to the Migrant Workers Onboarding Centre (MWOC) for an additional seven-day testing regime, and clear another Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction test before leaving.

Previously, some of these workers only had to serve their SHN for four days in dedicated facilities before being sent to Quick Build Dormitories serving as MWOCs for the remainder of their SHN period, as well as for the seven-day testing regime.

 Those with a positive serology result also did not have to serve the 14-day SHN period.

Newly arrived migrant workers with a positive serology result will also now have to go through a rostered routine testing (RRT) regime, where they will be tested for Covid-19 every two weeks, he said at a virtual press conference.

They were previously exempt from this.

From April 29, recovered workers living in dorms as well as workers from the construction, marine and process sectors who are living in Singapore and who have crossed 270 days from the date of their Covid -19 infection will no longer be exempted from prevailing public health measures.

They will be enrolled back on rostered routing testing once they cross the 270-day mark. If they have been identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases, they will also be subjected to quarantine in case of potential reinfection, added Dr Tan.

This move comes despite the fact that studies have shown that immunity after recovering from Covid-19 lasts beyond 300 days, said Dr Tan. “(This allows us to) maintain a tighter safety margin,” the minister added.

This also follows a review by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Manpower, in consultation with infectious disease specialists, which found that there can be a possible gradual decrease in antibody levels in those who have recovered from Covid-19, said Dr Tan. This review was based on the latest scientific evidence from the cohort of recovered persons in Singapore nearing one year from the date of infection.

“Although this is just one indicator of immunity, given the new variants of the virus emerging, the risk of breakthrough immune protection could have increased,” he added.

On Thursday, MOH said that 17 workers who had recovered from Covid-19 staying at Westlite Woodlands dormitory have tested positive for Covid-19.

MOH, together with an expert panel which comprises infectious diseases and microbiology experts, is investigating if they are reinfection cases.

This comes after a 35-year-old Bangladeshi worker staying at the purpose-built dorm tested positive for the virus on Monday as part of rostered routine testing for migrant workers despite receiving both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The additional cases were detected after pre-emptive swab and serology tests were conducted on Tuesday on residents staying on the second to seventh floors of Block A of the dorm. The worker who tested positive on Monday stayed in the same block.

Dr Tan said the bulk of these workers who tested positive are in the marine sector, and a stop-work order was issued at their worksite, on top of quarantining close contacts.

He added that migrant workers who have been vaccinated still have to go through rostered routine testing. This was how a recent case of a worker who tested positive for Covid-19 after being vaccinated had been picked up.

Published : April 23, 2021

By : Yuen Sin/The Straits Times/ANN

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Japan to decide Friday on declaring state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo

The government is expected to decide Friday to declare a state of emergency in the four prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo, where novel coronavirus infections are spreading at a fast pace. The state of emergency is expected to last at least three weeks, beginning around Sunday.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters after discussions with Cabinet members including health minister Norihisa Tamura on Wednesday, “I would like to make a decision by the end of this week after carefully examining the content” of requests from prefectures to declare an emergency.

The prefectures of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo have already requested the central government to issue an emergency declaration.

The declaration, if issued, will be the third of the pandemic, following declarations last April and this January. The government will hold a subcommittee meeting on the basic policy to counter the pandemic Friday, and the government headquarters on measures against the novel coronavirus is expected to make a formal decision later the same day.

The government is also considering adding Ehime Prefecture to the list of areas to be covered by priority measures that allow preventive actions close to those for the state of emergency.

The Tokyo metropolitan government and the Osaka prefectural government intend to request that not only restaurants but also a wide range of other industries, including large-scale commercial facilities, close during the emergency.

“In order to contain the coronavirus variants, we must curb the flow of people,” Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said at a press conference Wednesday.

A senior official of the metropolitan government also said, “We have no choice but to take bold measures with the declaration” because the priority measures have failed to curb the spread of infections.

On the other hand, the government is concerned that excessive expansion of preventive measures may interfere with the lives of residents. It is exploring the idea of closing restaurants only on weekends and holidays, when crowds would normally be expected, and having them shorten their business hours and refrain from serving alcohol on weekdays.

The focus is also on the handling of large commercial facilities such as department stores and shopping malls.

On that topic, an Osaka prefectural official said, “It is up to the central government to decide how to compensate [large commercial facilities] for cooperation on closure requests.” However, some central government officials find such a position difficult to understand.

Industry groups strongly oppose closures, and the government will spend a huge amount of money to support businesses that comply with the closure requests.

Regarding sports and other events, Yoshimura insisted that they should in principle be canceled or postponed during the declaration period, while the central government is reluctant to take such steps, saying that cancellations would cause huge losses to companies and people involved.

Osaka City had initially announced its policy to move classes in municipal elementary and junior high schools online in principle, although the central government believed that having children stay at home during the day would mean additional burdens on working parents.

Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui moderated his position on Wednesday, telling reporters: “I have not said anything about closing schools. I’m just saying that those who stay at home can study online.”

With the decision on the declaration expected Friday, government officials are busy coordinating with the relevant local governments. One high-ranking government official expressed worry, saying, “It doesn’t seem like details are being fixed smoothly.”

Published : April 23, 2021

By : The Japan News/ANN

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Thousands of Covid patients at risk as only few hours of Oxygen left in major Delhi hospitals

For the third day in a row, the hospitals in Delhi are in panic after their oxygen supply plummeted to the point that only a few hours of Oxygen is left for thousands of Covid-19 patients admitted to them.

Official sources informed that the Holy Family hospital has only two hours of supply remains with them. Similarly, government-run Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, BLK Hospital and Max Hospital, Patparganj have less than 4 hours of supply remains.

Shree Balaji Action hospital has less than 5 hours of Oxygen supply, while DU and Burari Hospital are left with 6 and 7 hours of Oxygen respectively.

The worsening Covid-19 situation has seen a surge in the demand for medical oxygen and beds for the COVID-19 patients and many states are reporting a shortage in essential medical supplies.

However, the Delhi government has pointed that a few states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are not allowing the supply to reach Delhi but redirecting to their own districts.

Earlier in the day, Apollo hospitals chief Dr Sangita Reddy had alleged that an oxygen tanker from the hospital which went for a refill to a plant in Faridabad was not allowed to enter there by Haryana police.

“As I tweet, an oxygen tanker is outside the gate of Air Liquide Panipat plant at IOCL and he is not being allowed inside. Haryana police are stopping it & not letting the oxygen out of Haryana. Need urgent intervention,” she had tweeted.

Published : April 23, 2021

By : The Statesman/ANN