WeCAPS project: Massively supporting ports of West and Central Africa to mitigate COVID-19 crisis

In these times when the global threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic has triggered dire consequences for whole societies and nations, the maritime industry is playing an essential role in the response. In view of this, it is important to allow maritime trade to continue and that world’s ports remain open.

The European Union reacted promptly in response to this crisis and WeCAPS adapted its operations adopting measures to protect the personnel working in port communities and ensure the continuity of maritime operations. WeCAPS approached the ports – partners of the project, in consultation with the European Union Delegations concerned and Expertise France – with a series of actions to support them in facing this crisis situation.

Training and sharing good practice

A knowledge sharing and distance learning platform, concerning biological risk, with a focus on the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and the associated COVID-19 disease, has been made available by WeCAPS and through Expertise France, and will enable port actors to have a good basic knowledge of the disease, its modes of propagation and the measures to be implemented to protect all personnel.

The project also addressed to the beneficiary ports its best practice guide, developed by the project’s civil protection expert and based on the operational procedures of European fire and rescue services, aimed at port authorities and first responders, which will enable them to continue their activities and carry out safety and security missions while respecting “barrier” gestures.

Providing operational response equipment

Finally, WeCAPS will provide PPE and operational response equipment to deal with the health crisis, mainly protection (thermometers, protective suits) and disinfection equipment, prioritizing to purchasing it in situ in order to engage local markets, with the support of the French Directorate for Security and Defense Cooperation (DCSD), partner of the project, and the UE Delegations, which have listed the needs of partner ports and referenced suppliers. The equipment should be delivered as soon as possible.

The aim of these actions is to help WeCAPS’ partner ports to address their urgent needs, enabling them to cope with the urgency of the situation and to maintain their activity operational, in order to continue supplying the countries of the region.