Hundreds of thousands of seafarers stranded at sea for months, says UN

Hundreds of thousands of the world’s two million seafarers have been stranded at sea for months as a result of COVID-19-related travel restrictions, said a statement issued by Stéphane Dujarricthe, the spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, on Friday.

The statement adds that the maximum sea time specified in world conventions is being paid no heed to, with some seafarers stuck at sea for 15 months.

Secretary-General Guterres is concerned about the growing safety and humanitarian crisis that seafarers all over the globe are facing, said Dujarricthe.

Mentioning that shipping transports over 80% of global trade, including food, vital medical supplies and other fundamental goods key for the COVID-19 response and recovery, the spokesman said that the ongoing crisis will have direct consequences on the shipping industry.

“The world could not function without the efforts of seafarers, yet their contributions go largely unheralded; they deserve far greater support at any time, but especially now,” read the statement.

Dujarricthe said the UN secretary-general called on all countries to officially classify seafarers and other marine personnel as “key workers” and ensure crew changeovers can safely occur.

“United Nations agencies, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), have worked with the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers Federation to develop protocols for crew changeovers, taking full account of public health concerns,” said Dujarricthe in the statement, adding, “The Secretary-General calls on all Governments to urgently implement these protocols, allowing stranded seafarers to repatriate and others to join ships.”

In another news about seafarers, independent news website Scoop reports the results of a recent survey by global maritime charity Stella Maris, writing that 69% of seafarers say COVID-19 has affected them financially “very much” or “a lot.”

According to Scoop, Stella Maris polled a total of 363 seafarers ranging from deck officers to ABs and engine crew, with the majority being from the Philippines.