UK Urged to Exempt Offshore Workers from COVID-19 Quarantine Restrictions

The Offshore Industry Group is urging the UK Government to exempt all offshore energy sector workers from the recently introduced 14-day quarantine restrictions.

The group, comprising IADC, IAGC, IMCA, IOGP and ISOA, is calling upon governments to recognize offshore energy sector workers as “key workers”.

This allows regular crew movements during mobilization and demobilization and exempts the workers from quarantine restrictions that were set on 8 June.

In a subsequent document, Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) jointly issued a statement to enlist the support of governments for the facilitation of crew changes in ports and airports in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To facilitate the required crew changes, the UN agencies encourage national and local authorities to grant marine personnel, offshore energy sector personnel, aviation personnel and service provider personnel at ports any necessary exemptions from national travel and health-related, or movement restrictions to facilitate their joining or leaving ships, aircrafts, airports and cargo facilities.

According to the group, despite assurances that international offshore energy sector workers would be exempt from the quarantine restrictions, this has not yet been done.