seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Seafarers Worldwide Marooned by Perfect Storm of COVID-19 Restrictions
George Fu June 7, 2021 https://www.theepochtimes.com/seafarers-worldwide-marooned-by-perfect-st...

Ship Abandonments Hit Record in 2020 -ITF
June 7, 2021 https://gcaptain.com/ship-abandonments-hit-record-in-2020-itf/

The International Transport Workers’ Federation said today it helped seafarers recover nearly $45 million in owed wages last year while cases of ship abandonments nearly doubled to a record high.

‘Owed wages’ are usually pay, bonuses or entitlements that are unpaid by a shipowner or their agent for the work already done by a seafarer.

Failure is not disaster: IMO’s troubled efforts to finalise GHG measures
June 8, 2021 https://splash247.com/failure-is-not-disaster-imos-troubled-efforts-to-f...

Thomas Timlen, a Singapore-based analyst, writer and eyewitness of many debates at the International Maritime Organization, reflects on what the organisation’s history says about the prospects for effective climate change regulations.

Tesla works with global shipping company to digitize data and “stabilize logistics networks”
Maria Merano June 6, 2021 https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-optimizes-shipping-data/

Tesla is helping Chinese state-owned company COSCO Shipping digitize its vast shipping data. COSCO has agreed to share shipping data with Tesla so the EV maker can test the system in the Chinese company’s Shanghai port.

Maritime security expert urges cooperation, not confrontation in sea row
Jeannette I. Andrade, Tina G. Santos -June 08, 2021 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1443040/expert-cooperation-not-confrontati...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should not beg China to “play ball” on issues concerning the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to a maritime security expert.

China's incursions over Malaysia add to South China Sea disputes
KOYA JIBIKI, TSUKASA HADANO and YU NAKAMURA, June 6, 2021 https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/South-China-Sea...

Stranded seafarers: an unfolding humanitarian crisis
Rochelle Bailey, Maria Borovnik, Charlotte Bedford June 3, 2021 https://devpolicy.org/seafarers-in-a-covid-world-20210603/

Closures of international borders due to COVID-19 have affected migrant workers globally, both on land and sea. This blog examines the plight of international seafarers who have been caught by COVID-19 travel restrictions and outlines some recent efforts to assist them.

US sells off Iranian crude oil seized off coast of UAE
JON GAMBRELL May 31, 2021 https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-middle-east-iran-iran-nuclear-gl...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. has sold some 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil after seizing an oil tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, court documents and government statistics show.

'No big ships': Protest over cruises returning to Venice
6 June 2021 https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-57373382

In March, Venice announced a ban on large vessels, including cruise ships and shipping containers, following concerns from residents over pollution, and underwater erosion of the city's foundations.

The ban will only come into effect once new terminals are built to allow for new routes around the city centre.

Crew Members Talk Living Conditions on Cruise Ships
June 06, 2021 https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/25162-crew-members-talk-l...

The cabin options for cruise ship guests are usually if not endless, then at least plentiful. For a pricey fee, guests can upgrade all the way to penthouses and ship-within-a-ship concepts onboard most major cruise lines.

But what about crew accommodations?