Maersk Line suspends shore-leave in Ebola-hit countries

Maersk Line will not stop calling at West African ports stricken by the Ebola virus, but the company will suspend shore-leave -- which is the leave that professional sailors get to spend on dry land -- as well as make some changes to crews in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, Lloyd’s Loading List reports.

The decision coincides with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the outbreak a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’ (PHEIC), affecting trade and travel.

The latest Ebola outbreak is the largest ever recorded, claiming lives of more than 900 people with hundreds more infected.

The global shipping organisations voiced their concern as well over the outbreak of the Ebola virus and its affect on shipping industry. They also issued guidelines on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus.

A spokesperson for Maersk said: “We have been following the situation for some time and sent out our first advisory to vessels calling at West African ports on 26 March. We have subsequently sent out several updates -- to crews and land-based personnel -- outlining additional health measures as per the WHO recommendations”.