The Port of Sines joined the statement released by the Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) on the need and commitment of port authorities to maintain the continuity and functioning of ports in the context of a pandemic. This process was initiated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and has gathered the agreement of more than 50 port authorities worldwide, especially those with greater prominence in the world maritime trade such as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Barcelona, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Los Angeles, Ningbo or Shanghai.
With the current climate of economic uncertainty and health crisis, it is crucial that port authorities remain committed to keeping their ports open to international trade and thus ensuring the continuous flow of goods between countries. The three principles that make up the declaration are:
- Keep the global supply chain and world trade up and running, ensuring that merchant ships can continue to dock and operate at port terminals;
- Facilitate closer coordination and establishing an open communication channel so that port and maritime authorities can share experiences and exchange information on combating COVID-19;
- Adopt best practices according to the national context of each port, including precautionary measures for the port community, advice and assistance for crews and personnel needing to go on board, and measures to be taken when facing confirmed cases.
The ports signing this declaration also intend to express the greatest thanks to the maritime personnel, marine pilots, onshore workers and to the entire international maritime and port community who, together, work tirelessly in the context of a pandemic, allowing international trade to continue during these hard times.
In addition to the approximately 50 leading port authorities on the five continents, this declaration is also supported by international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), among others.
For the declaration and adhering ports see the website of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore: