seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Opposition to Cosco’s port expansion plans in Piraeus grows
David Glass | Dec 02, 2020 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/opposition-coscos-port...

The Piraeus town hall has joined the business-led front against the Cosco Shipping managed Piraeus Port Authority’s (PPA) plans to expand facilities in the Mediterranean’s top container and passenger ship hub.

Drones come to the rescue in Covid battle at sea
December 3, 2020 https://splash247.com/drones-come-to-the-rescue-in-covid-battle-at-sea/

Panagiotis Galanis reports on the the first transportation of rapid Covid tests for seafarers using drones.

Cargo ship attacked off Yemen in the Gulf of Aden: authorities
Jon Gambrell The Associated Press December 5, 2020 https://globalnews.ca/news/7503807/cargo-ship-attacked-yemen/

A cargo ship travelling past Yemen in the Gulf of Aden came under attack in unclear circumstances, maritime authorities said Saturday.

The Gulf of Aden is a crucial route for global trade, and has seen a number of Somali pirate attacks that have mostly stopped in recent years.

[ANALYSIS] A brief history of COVID-19 in the Philippines
Nicanor Austriaco OP Dec 1, 2020 3:32 PM PHT

(excerpts)

The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) has recently analyzed and compared the DNA sequences for all the known genomes of SARS-CoV2 obtained from Filipino COVID-19 patients. The genome is the map of all the genes in the virus. By comparing genomes, scientists can determine a family tree for SARS-CoV2 to identify related viruses of similar origin.

CDC order leaves 1,000 Filipino seafarers languishing in hotels
Recto Mercene December 5, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/12/05/cdc-order-leaves-1000-filipino-...

Crucial role of the EU Member States to ensure that crew changes are able to take place without further delays and seafarers are prioritised for vaccination
05/12/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/crucial-role-of-the-eu-member-state...

Open Letter to Ministers of Transport of EU Member States on crew changes and vaccination

Dear Ministers,

Container ship loses nearly 2,000 cargo carriers in Pacific storm
04/12/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/container-ship-loses-nearly-2000-ca...

Nearly 2,000 containers aboard a ship managed by NYK Shipmanagement of Japan were lost or damaged when it hit by stormy weather in the Pacific Ocean, the company said, adding that the vessel was heading Japan for assessment.

Solon protests virtual confinement of 431 seafarers in 2 hotels
Ben Rosario December 3, 2020 https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/03/solon-protests-virtual-confinement-of-431-s...

1PACMAN Representative Enrico “Eric” A. Pineda is protesting the “quarantine overkill” conducted on 431 seafarers who have been kept in “virtual solitary confinement” in two Metro Manila hotels in the past two months.

Last call for seamen who’re still on board: time to reset and stay home
Mikhail Voytenko December 3, 2020 https://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/12/03/last-call-for-seamen-whore-s...

FMC Members Call for Priority Vaccination for the Maritime Workforce
12-03-2020 https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/fmc-members-call-for-priority...

In an open letter, two members of the Federal Maritime Commissioner have appealed to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to provide mariners and longshoremen with access to rapid COVID-19 testing and priority early vaccination.