Investors managing more than USD 2 trillion of assets are calling on world leaders to address the “unfolding humanitarian crisis at sea” where marine workers are stranded due to border closures and restrictions on movement imposed to contain Covid-19.

The 85-member investor group, which is led by Fidelity International and includes Lombard Odier Investment Management and MFS Investment Management, wants seafarers to be officially designated as “key workers” and requested the “establishment of systematic processes to enable safe crew changes.”