COVID-19 Response for Ship and Shore

In light of the evolving COVID-19 situation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management implemented the following operational adjustments to secure the well-being of our employees and crew as we strive to deliver an uninterrupted operability of our fleet.

Employees are mostly operating from home or at half-office-workforce as required by local government recommendations. The affected offices will be operating under their business continuity plan to ensure continuity of services. This arrangement continues until further notice.

Working from home as securely as possible during the pandemic is high on our agenda. We have stepped up our cyber security initiatives and communicated the guidelines to all employees. Employees are reminded to stay vigilant as we expect an increase in fraud attempts.

To prepare the return of employees into their workplaces, offices are disinfected and with social distancing arrangements in place according to local government guidelines.

Employees have accessible information from intranet announcements on the latest progress of the outbreak situation and business continuity plan. E-mails from local HR keep employees updated on current social distancing orders from respective governments.

Employees are encouraged to self-check on their physical and mental health. Online resources are available with communication channels open for them to seek help if needed.

During the height of COVID-19, most countries/cities have implemented lockdowns. As restrictions eased and economies open, crew changes can be made where possible and when risk mitigation conditions are met. All crew changes are according to international and local guidelines.

Our crew change efforts are performed in accordance to IMO’s recommended framework of protocols ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel. We are proactively evaluating the situation to ensure that our crew can be relieved as soon as possible.

When calling at port, crew must take precautionary measures to protect themselves. Crew are familiarized with the safety guidelines focusing on safety measures to be taken prior to calling, during stay and after departure.

We have heightened our communication frequency with our vessels through port updates and safety bulletins. It is essential to keep the crew updated on the latest progress of the outbreak situation and measures for protection.

On board health and safety culture are top priority for all crew. This includes mental health - especially important for crew who are serving past their contracts due to the pandemic. Crew are encouraged to seek help if needed.

We have yet to see the full scale of the impact of this pandemic but we know it will be felt throughout the industry. We are proactively doing scenario planning and adjustments in our systems and processes to accommodate the anticipated changes.

We are also working closely with global and national authorities to ensure our service delivery to you remains uninterrupted.