Offshore Group Calls for UK Quarantine Exemption

As part of its ongoing COVID-19 response, the UK Government earlier this week unveiled a series of restrictions requiring a 14-day quarantine period for travellers entering the country.

Five industry associations – acting under the auspices of their Offshore Industry Group organisation –urged the government on the 11^th June to exempt all offshore energy sector workers from the quarantine restrictions.

Offshore Industry Group members include The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC), International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) and International Support Vessel Owners Association (ISOA).

In a written statement emailed to Rigzone, the Offshore Industry Group argued that it has won the support of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretary-general via its recommendations calling upon governments to recognize offshore energy sector workers as “key workers.”

The group explained the “key worker” designation allows regular crew movements during mobilization and exempts such workers from quarantine restrictions. A Rigzone article on the 15^th May detailed the Offshore Industry Group’s efforts to win IMO backing.

“Despite assurances that international offshore energy sector workers would be exempt from the quarantine restrictions (introduced by the UK Government on the 8^th June), … these workers have not yet been included in the list of exemptions,” the Offshore Industry Group stated on the 11^th June.

The group added that offshore workers perform a wide variety of roles critical to the daily activities needed to maintain global energy supplies.

Details about the UK Government’s quarantine requirements appear on its website.

Source: Rigzone