We’re in the midst of the second wave of COVID-19. The complete economic shutdown of the spring has not (yet) happened everywhere, but our lives are still being affected by the pandemic. We know the conditions and effects on land, but what about on the water? Canada is a trading state and, with the exception of material going to/coming from the United States, that trade travels via the oceans. The pandemic has caused disruptions in every sector of the maritime industry – from the cruise ship industry, to cancelled sailings of cargo/container ships, to navies affected by sick crews, to government budgets focused on addressing the pandemic.
Two things illustrate the interconnection and interdependence of the world today – pandemics and shipping. Cargo such as clothing, furniture, electronics and food all arrive via container ships. And now we’re realizing that medical equipment also relies on global supply lines, as will a vaccine when it is developed. What happens to an interconnected world when a pandemic happens? We’re now finding out.
For a great discussion of the disruption that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused on water, read the Naval Association of Canada Briefing Note on the topic, at https://www.navalassoc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/BN27-Pandemics.pdf
2 thoughts on “How the Pandemic Plays out on Water”
A very interesting article from the NAC on the Pandemic with COVID-19, especially with the Canadian Navy and their personnel. I think the RCN has got it right with respect to Quarantining ships crews for 14 days prior to each deployment. My concerns would be, what happens to crew testing during and after extended foreign port visits. How is the navy handling that issue? Do ships medical staff have sufficient testing and PPE on board to test each crew member? If some crew members test positive, how do you isolate them? Are they removed from the ship with replacements in hand? Does the ship sail short handed for an exercise? In My Opinion (IMO), if this pandemic lasts much past 2021 with no effective vaccine, this will most likely affect the NSS and the number of CSC Frigates that can be built.
In foreign port they do not go ashore and stay on the ship for the most part. At times if able the jetty is cordoned off to allow people to go for a walk or just recently a golf course was bought out for the day and personnel were allowed to go via buses and via buses back. At the beginning of the pandemic, the amount of PPE onboard was sufficient however limited. They now take more than enough and have plans in place in case someone comes down with symptoms for quarantining. I believe rapid testing is being looked at for the ships as well. Ships are testing the entire ships company prior to deploying, during regular short sails they wear PPE onboard.