seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

P&O Ferries sacks all 800 crew members across entire fleet
Gwyn Topham 17 Mar 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/17/po-ferries-halts-sailing...

Unions brand move ‘scandalous’ with jobs axed without notice and agency workers lined up to staff vessels

The leading UK ferry operator, P&O Ferries, has sacked 800 British crew across its entire fleet after stopping all its sailings on Thursday.

61 Filipinos repatriated from Indonesia, Ukraine
Bernadette E. Tamayo March 16, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/16/news/61-filipinos-repatriated-fro...

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated 7 distressed Filipinos in Manado, Indonesia and 54 seafarers in Ukraine.

Seafarers Feel Unsafe Entering Russian Ports
John Konrad March 16, 2022 https://gcaptain.com/ukraine-seafarers-unsafe/

This week the Financial Times (FT) reported that, according to estimates, 55 to 60 percent of Ukraine’s 80,000 seafarers are currently on ships, about 20 percent want to return to Ukraine to fight against Russia, and a significant number fear they will be arrested – or worse – if their ships enter Russian ports.

Shedding light on suicides at sea
15 Mar 2022

AMSA says it’s possible to mandate reporting of fatalities at sea while protecting the anonymity of seafarers and shipping companies

GLOBALLY, seafarer welfare groups and maritime organisations agree the rate of mental health issues among seafarers appears to be on the rise, with indications of a marked increase during the pandemic-induced crew changeover crisis.

However, an absence of hard data to support anecdotal evidence means tangible change to address concerns for seafarers remains out of reach.

COVID curbs bite at Chinese ports, threatening global supply chains
Joe Brock March 16, 2022 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-27/china-s-electricity-s...

Calls for ‘blue corridor’ to let stranded seafarers leave Ukraine war zone
Karen McVeigh 16 Mar 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/16/ukraine-russia-war-b...

Unions and shipping bodies urge safe passage from Black Sea and Sea of Azov after missile strikes and at least one death reported

Shipping walks tricky Russian sanctions tightrope
Sam Chambers March 16, 2022 https://splash247.com/shipping-walks-tricky-russian-sanctions-tightrope/

There are 1,505 Russian-affiliated vessels that face some form of restrictions as the global maritime industry comes to terms with the difficulties of not doing business with the world’s largest country.

Ship queues developing at key Chinese ports
Sam Chambers March 16, 2022 https://splash247.com/ship-queues-developing-at-key-chinese-ports/

Ships are building up at important Chinese ports as China’s strict zero-Covid policy rattles supply chains once again.

The Seizure of a Russian Merchant Vessel Raises Questions About High Seas Freedoms
Michael C. Petta, March 16, 2022 https://www.lawfareblog.com/seizure-russian-merchant-vessel-raises-quest...

Shipowners use armed guards to evacuate seafarers
March 16, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/16/business/maritime/shipowners-use-...

SHIPOWNERS are taking extra efforts and paying hefty amounts to secure their seafarers trapped in the Black Sea because of the worsening war caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.