seafarers problems

Seafarers On Hunger Strike, Hospitalised In Kuwait

Seafarers On Hunger Strike, Hospitalised In Kuwait

Indian, Turkish, Azerbaijaniani and Bangladeshi seafarers are in the third week of a hunger strike in the port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. The abandoned crew of the bulk carrier Ula (IMO number: 8102414) have been on hunger strike since 7 January in a desperate effort to get off the ship and recover more than $400,000 USD in wages owed to them.

Six of the crew of have already been hospitalised to stabilise their blood pressure and sugar levels, before being returned to the ship. The seafarers lives...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/seafarers-on-hunger-strike-hospitalised-in-kuwait/

MSC Calls For Urgent Solution For Seafarers Stranded On ‘MV Anastasia’

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is calling for an urgent crew change solution for the bulk carrier “ANASTASIA”, which is stuck off the coast of northern China, and is among dozens of ships in a waiting line near the port of Caofeidian.

MSC has repeatedly requested during the ship’s voyage that the seafarers onboard should be relieved to return home to their families. These proposals have not yet been implemented by the chartering parties which determine the ship’s movements. China has...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/msc-calls-for-urgent-solution-for-seafarers-stranded-on-mv-anastasia/

Sailors’ Society’s Helpline Service Provides Mental Health Support To More Than 12000 Seafarers

Sailors’ Society, one of the largest seafarer welfare charities in the world, is providing mental health support to more than 12,000 seafarers via its new ‘Ship Connect’ helpline service.

The unique service, which is part of the charity’s pioneering Wellness at Sea programme, runs alongside its existing seafarer helplines. Instead of waiting for crew to call a chaplain for help, Sailors’ Society chaplains agree with shipping companies to make regular contact with their ships, getting to know the...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/sailors-societys-helpline-service-provides-mental-health-support-to-more-than-12000-seafarers/

ISWAN’s New Guidance Aims To Help Companies Implement Mental Health Policies For Seafarers

Young man with hands clasped together

An essential new guide Mentally Healthy Ships has been launched by ISWAN to provide shipping companies and ship operators with information to help devise and implement mental health policies and practices to promote and protect seafarers’ mental health.

ISWAN’s earlier series of Good Mental Health Guides, published between 2017 and 2018, aim to offer seafarers evidence-based information about what they can do to protect and promote their own mental health at sea. These guides were designed to...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/iswans-new-guidance-aims-to-help-companies-implement-mental-health-policies-for-seafarers/

Seafarers Should Get COVID-19 Vaccines On Priority, Says IMO

American Club Calls On Industry To Step Up Care Of Seafarers Mental Health_seafarer mental health

As the coronavirus vaccine distribution plan comes to the forefront, key workers and industries are clamoring to ensure that their workers get the priority in the vaccination plan.

Shippers and seafarers are at the forefront of this, as they are living in a nightmare stranded in their ships or at the shore waiting to join their colleagues. The pandemic restrictions have added to their woes as the crew change crisis took the center stage. In such a condition, there have been unending calls to...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/seafarers-should-get-covid-19-vaccines-on-priority-says-imo/

EU Calls For Adoption Of International Cooperation To Address Challenges Faced By Seafarers

seafarers

General Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States delivered by Ms Peggy Vissers, European Union Delegation to the United Nations, 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Agenda Item 128(a) on the Adoption of International cooperation to address challenges faced by seafarers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to support global supply chains

Mr. Chair,

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/eu-calls-for-adoption-of-international-cooperation-to-address-challenges-faced-by-seafarers/

400,000 Seafarers Stuck At Sea As Crew Change Crisis Deepens

Seafarers silhouette

Some 400,000 seafarers from across the globe are now stranded on ships, continuing to work but unable to be relieved, in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety.

During a high-level event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (24 September), Captain Hedi Marzougui, who was in command of a vessel between December 2019 and May 2020, appealed to Governments to act to allow seafarers to come home.

“Not knowing when or if we will be returning home...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/400000-seafarers-stuck-at-sea-as-crew-change-crisis-deepens/

450 Seafarers Quarantined On Board For Weeks Amid COVID Outbreak On Ships

covid

A suspected coronavirus outbreak on 20 ships off the coast of a tiny Indian island has left 300 ill seafarers stranded on board without basic medical supplies for weeks, international maritime charity Sailors’ Society has reported.

Around 70 per cent of the estimated 450 crew on the ships, near Port Blair on the Andaman Islands, have shown symptoms of the virus.

The seafarers, most of whom are from India or the Andaman Islands working on domestic ships, have been quarantined on board for more...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/450-seafarers-quarantined-on-board-for-weeks-amid-covid-outbreak-on-ships/

Seafarers’ Rights International Calls For Investigation Into Perfect Storm For Seafarers

Seafarers silhouette

The recent spate of grim casualties cannot simply be written off as bad luck, says Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI), the international pan-industry body researching maritime and seafarers’ law.

It points out that the failure to treat seafarers as keyworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic is having devastating effects on individuals, who are now at risk of being caught in a perfect storm of exhaustion from extended employment agreements, increasing numbers of accidents, maritime casualties,...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/seafarers-rights-international-calls-for-investigation-into-perfect-storm-for-seafarers/

Stella Maris Survey Reveals Impact Of COVID-19 On Seafarers

Synergy Group Calls For Collective Action On Shipping’s Coronavirus Crewing Crisis_

Putting food on the table, paying household bills and loans and ensuring job security are among the top concerns faced by seafarers as they cope with the impact that COVID-19 ​is having on their lives and that of their families.

A recent survey conducted by global maritime charity Stella Maris showed that such financial worries have had a profound impact on seafarers, with 69% saying that COVID-19 has impacted them financially “a lot” or “very much”.

Seafarers also said the pandemic has had a...

https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/stella-maris-survey-reveals-impact-of-covid-19-on-seafarers/

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