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25 June is the International #DayoftheSeafarer.
Normally this day is for raising awareness of what seafarers do & the sacrifices we make to keep the world turning. But this year is different. This year urgent action is needed. #GetSeafarersHome #CrewChange #CrewRelief
A THREAD:
Normally this day is for raising awareness of what seafarers do & the sacrifices we make to keep the world turning. But this year is different. This year urgent action is needed. #GetSeafarersHome #CrewChange #CrewRelief
A THREAD:
In the wake of COVID-19, seafarers have been abandoned. #CrewEmergency.
The UN estimated earlier in June that 400,000 sailors are stranded at sea, overdue to return home, with no prospect of relief. This is having a severe impact on fatigue, mental health, and safety.
The UN estimated earlier in June that 400,000 sailors are stranded at sea, overdue to return home, with no prospect of relief. This is having a severe impact on fatigue, mental health, and safety.
Ours is a dangerous job at the best of times. We put our safety in our crewmates’ hands – a major mistake from anyone can result in injury/fatality.
Add fatigued concentration & demoralisation and the industry gets more dangerous by the day.
Add fatigued concentration & demoralisation and the industry gets more dangerous by the day.
That doesn't even consider the elephant in the room - Covid19 itself. Working in ports forces interaction with workers from ashore.
Protective measures are in place, but still heading to Brazil right now doesn't feel great.
Protective measures are in place, but still heading to Brazil right now doesn't feel great.
The rate of seafarer suicides has also skyrocketed during the pandemic. Search “Seafarer Suicide” on Google News any given day if you dare.
The #CrewEmergency is not just risking our health and safety – it’s killing people.
The #CrewEmergency is not just risking our health and safety – it’s killing people.
It’s also affecting the families – wives, husbands, children, etc – waiting at home for their sailor who doesn’t know when they’re coming home.
Imagine knowing your child doesn’t understand why Daddy/Mummy isn’t home yet.
And not forgetting the seafarers stuck at home with no pay
Imagine knowing your child doesn’t understand why Daddy/Mummy isn’t home yet.
And not forgetting the seafarers stuck at home with no pay
Why is this happening? #CrewChange is a logistical nightmare at the moment. It relies on it being allowed by govts of:
1. The home country of joiner &
2. The home country of leaver &
3. The country of embarkation.
PLUS:
4. Flights to be running
5. Company to give the go ahead
1. The home country of joiner &
2. The home country of leaver &
3. The country of embarkation.
PLUS:
4. Flights to be running
5. Company to give the go ahead
Any one of those not playing ball stops #CrewChange. Things are slowly improving – crew changes are happening across the world. But not at the rate and scale required.
If your ship isn’t sailing to country allowing flights in/out, how do you get the crew off?
If your ship isn’t sailing to country allowing flights in/out, how do you get the crew off?
All nations need a unified plan to make #CrewChange both routine and safe.
E.g. fixed quarantine and/or testing for joining/leaving crew members in ports, to allow complete quarantine from home-ship/ship-home. Why isn’t this being done? It’s expensive & resource-consuming.
E.g. fixed quarantine and/or testing for joining/leaving crew members in ports, to allow complete quarantine from home-ship/ship-home. Why isn’t this being done? It’s expensive & resource-consuming.
Aren’t there regulations to prevent the #CrewEmergency? Yes. But…
MLC 2006 rules that crew have the right to be repatriated after 12 months onboard. But that doesn’t seem to matter at the moment. Expired seafarer certificates, overdue contracts are all being largely ignored.
MLC 2006 rules that crew have the right to be repatriated after 12 months onboard. But that doesn’t seem to matter at the moment. Expired seafarer certificates, overdue contracts are all being largely ignored.
The UK and Australia have started detaining ships in breach, but Panama just overruled MLC to allow seafarers to stay on their vessels for 17 months, actively abandoning seafarers.
Our Regs - #MLC, #STCW, #IMO, #PSC - are all being proven worthless in most areas of the world.
Our Regs - #MLC, #STCW, #IMO, #PSC - are all being proven worthless in most areas of the world.
Can’t we force the issue? If the ships stopped, the world would stop very quickly.
Supermarket shelves, petrol stations, basically all shops (including Amazon) would be empty. 80% of goods are traded by sea – 95% of imports in the UK. “Made in _” nearly always means “came by sea”
Supermarket shelves, petrol stations, basically all shops (including Amazon) would be empty. 80% of goods are traded by sea – 95% of imports in the UK. “Made in _” nearly always means “came by sea”
Earlier in June the ITF urged all overdue seafarers to strike. A few have but it isn’t so easy – one person in a team leaves & the others have to pick up slack unless the Master just completely stops the vessel: A bold move in an industry in which many fear for their job security
What about professional groups? Regulatory & labour groups have been trying to help so far, with some (not enough) success.
How quickly would #CrewChange start if #IACS #ClassificationSocieties removed Class for – and stranded in port - every vessel with overdue seafarers?
How quickly would #CrewChange start if #IACS #ClassificationSocieties removed Class for – and stranded in port - every vessel with overdue seafarers?
Seafarers are a hardy, proud group, and it’s heartbreaking to see my colleagues treated so poorly across the world.
Mostly it’s a case of countries keeping themselves safe from Covid19 at seafarers’ expense, and others it’s active abandonment ( #Panama)
Mostly it’s a case of countries keeping themselves safe from Covid19 at seafarers’ expense, and others it’s active abandonment ( #Panama)
To those nations & organisations helping to facilitate #CrewChange I say thank you & keep it up.
To my colleagues I say hang in there. Things WILL get better one day.
To my colleagues’ families I say please support your loved ones. They are HEROES and will be with you again soon.
To my colleagues I say hang in there. Things WILL get better one day.
To my colleagues’ families I say please support your loved ones. They are HEROES and will be with you again soon.
To those of you not attached to the industry I ask to please spare a thought for the seafarers stuck away, helping to bring you food, fuel, medical equipment, office supplies…
And thank you for reading.
I sincerely hope #DayoftheSeafarer in 2021 is a much happier affair.
And thank you for reading.
I sincerely hope #DayoftheSeafarer in 2021 is a much happier affair.
