seafarers problems

Life At Sea Report Shows Seafarers’ Need For Human Contact

missing seafarer

Global maritime charity Stella Maris is highlighting the vital need for personal, human contact for seafarers in a world operating amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our latest Life at Sea Report observes that, in a maritime world of increased digitalisation and automation, smaller crews and faster port turnaround times, the need for basic human contact remains paramount,” says Stella Maris CEO Martin Foley.

“In the face of the world’s collective failure to provide timely repatriation for seafarers,...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/life-at-sea-report-shows-seafarers-need-for-human-contact/

Seafarers’ Calls For Help Again Raise Issue Of Pandemic Narrative Suppression

Young man with hands clasped together

In the last week, Human Rights at Sea has received multiple messages from seafarers requesting urgent assistance as the crew change crisis and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to bite deep in the 1.6-1.7 million strong seafarer community. Such messages are just a snapshot of the issues being raised, mostly behind the industry scenes, and often with minimal public profiling.

Increasingly, this is highlighting a wider and more insidious issue of the assessed deliberate suppression of the...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/seafarers-calls-for-help-again-raise-issue-of-pandemic-narrative-suppression/

At Least 75 Ship Abandonment Incidents Reported in Last One Year

MV Viet Tin 01 abandoned by its owner in Malaysian waters

Ship abandonment is one of the common challenges international seafarers are confronted with, said Andrew Mwangura, a Kenya-based Maritime Consultant. He added that between 2020 and 2021, at least 75 cases of vessel abandonment had been recorded.

He added that the International Labour Organization (ILO) with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) began maintaining records of abandoned ships. They have done this for nearly two decades. Every year, about 20-25 ships are abandoned at various...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/at-least-75-ship-abandonment-incidents-reported-in-last-one-year/

Can A Fair Future For Seafarers Be Actually Achieved?

Companies Can Step Up To Save Seafarers Stranded Off China

During the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers have undertaken what amount to be heroic efforts to continue providing the world with the goods it needs while they have been often ignored, have been failed to be repatriated in a timely manner and have had their contracts often extended in excess of legal norms. This year’s theme is a fair future for seafarers, but with a following question to be asked: “Can this can be achieved?
Human Rights at Sea has interviewed Yrhen Balinis, a young, driven and...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/can-a-fair-future-for-seafarers-be-actually-achieved/

Crew Health Advice: Panic Disorders

panic_heart-conditions - Crew Health Advice

What is Panic Disorder?

Seafarers can experience high levels of stress in their job. A life at sea entails dangers that are not present in many other occupations. Seafarers work under threat of injury from accidents, piracy and illness. Stressors in seafarers can be personal or directly connected to work conditions.

Personal stressors are referred to in terms of how satisfied the seafarer is with his or her work, and the self-perceptions associated with their work. Occupational stressors entail...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/crew-health-advice-panic-disorders/

Free Wellness Campaign Launched For Seafarers, Their Families And Shore Staff By Sailors’ Society

Andy Scaysbrook Photographer/ Not On My Watch Campaign

Shipping companies are being invited to sign up to a free mental health and wellbeing campaign offering support not just to crews, but also their families and shore staff.

International maritime charity Sailors’ Society has expanded its Wellness at Sea Awareness Campaign to include families and shore staff. The 27-week campaign, which starts in June, will help seafarers, their families and shore staff understand how they can manage their own wellbeing and navigate common challenges that people...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/free-wellness-campaign-launched-for-seafarers-their-families-and-shore-staff-by-sailors-society/

UN Launches Voluntary Guidelines To Protect Seafarers’ Human Rights Amid Crew Change Crisis

seaman covid-19 main deck and mooring equipment of cargo ship, v

The United Nations (UN) launched the Human Rights Due Diligence Tool, a joint initiative of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The Tool comes as worries over increased risk of violation of seafarers’ human rights, including fears over what amounts to forced labour. It is no news that the crew change crisis has deprived stranded...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/un-launch-voluntary-guidelines-to-protect-seafarers-human-rights-amid-crew-change-crisis/

No More Excuses For Global Brands As New Tool Launched In Fight To Resolve Crew Change Crisis: ITF Seafarers

The world’s seafarers’ unions say the world’s biggest brands have no excuse not to audit their supply chains and issue directives to suppliers on crew change, now that a new human rights due diligence toolkit has been launched.

The toolkit helps cargo owners and charterers ask the right questions of suppliers and business partners in their supply chains to ensure seafarers’ human and labour rights are being upheld, including to crew change, freedom of movement and freedom from forced labour.

The...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/no-more-excuses-for-global-brands-as-new-tool-launched-in-fight-to-resolve-crew-change-crisis-itf-seafarers/

Container Stack Collapse Can Result In PTSD For Seafarers, Warns CSSS

Container Stack Collapse Can Result In PTSD For Seafarers - loss

Container Shipping Supporting Seafarers (CSSS) has voiced concern over the physical and psychological impact of a container stack collapse on the seafarer.

CSSS, a volunteer group established in 2017 by Philip Eastell, believes that stack failure can result not only in physical injury or fatality but also cause post-traumatic stress disorders and similar conditions.

“To be working onboard a large vessel during a major stow collapse must be an extremely stressful experience. The sheer movement of...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/container-stack-collapse-can-result-in-ptsd-for-seafarers-warns-csss/

New Zealand Government To Change Maritime Law To Fund Seafarer’s Centres

Lyttelton-Seafarers-Centre - New Zealand - HRAS - Human Rights at sea seafarer center

Human Rights at Sea is pleased to report that the Labour-led New Zealand Government has publicly announced it will fulfil its manifesto pledge and commitment to improve seafarer welfare through funding from the maritime levies triggered by lobbying from the Seafarers Welfare Board and the March 2020 report from HRAS ‘Under funding of Seafarer’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance’.

The Labour Manifesto 2020 highlighted (p20) that: “Labour will ensure that Seafarer Welfare Centres provide...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/new-zealand-government-to-change-maritime-law-to-fund-seafarers-centres/

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