159 Anthony Day, Blockchain Partner, Global Business Services, IBM Ireland Ltd

<p>During the pandemic, we have seen a crew change crises. Seafarers have not been able to travel between the ships that constitute their workplace and their country of residence due to travel restrictions. </p> <p>High-level meetings have been taking place, aiming to get seafarers designated as "key-workers", which would lead to exemption from specific COVID-related travel restrictions and make it possible for the 200,000 stranded seafarers to become repatriated. </p> <p><a href= "https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/FAQ-on-crew-changes-and-repatriation-of-seafarers.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3jRIsaPyW-fT9K_3Z0xqt-OXEQTbJAJAcshcj7H6yqn2bDqBijaH2EDeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here is a link to IMOs Q and As about the crew change crises</a>.</p> <p>Currently, the next step towards normality is vaccination. The key-workers status would move seafarers up the line in the queue.</p> <p>The next step after that is how to prove vaccination and clearance for Covid-19 through a negative test. One suggestion is a Digital Health Pass, and that is what this episode is addressing.</p> <p>Meet Anthony Day, working at IBM in Dublin, who focuses on digital health pass and how complicated it can be to get national health authorities to agree on a global standard. Anthony describes how a digital health pass would make the certification easy to show on a mobile device when travelling or entering a sports arena. He explains blockchain technology and gives us insights into the various considerations that have to be considered. </p> <p>Anthony has his podcast called <a href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blockchain-wont-save-the-world/id1502561115" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blockchain won't save the world</a> if you are interested in the tech behind the digital health pass, blockchain. </p> <p>Thank you for listening! </p> <p>Twitter:  <a href= "https://twitter.com/Shippingpodcast"><u>@Shippingpodcast</u></a>  <br /> Facebook: <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/Shippingpodcast"><u>Shippingpodcast</u></a> <br />