Maritime Safety Week

That the Parliament recognises that the UK Government’s annual Maritime Safety Week offers an opportunity to focus on safety at sea; is concerned that the health and safety of seafarers and maritime energy workers in Scotland is under increased pressure from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes the difficulties faced by workers and their trade unions in contributing to risk assessments in the maritime and energy sectors; understands that operators in the passenger ferry sector in Scotland have different interpretations of the Scottish Government’s guidance on face coverings and social distancing; believes that staff in ports and on passenger ships should not be responsible for enforcing the restrictions that remain in place as lockdown is gradually eased, and calls on the Scottish Government to work with the RMT and other trade unions to ensure that the safety regime in the maritime sector in Scotland is not undermined by the socio-economic shock of the pandemic.