seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Four seafarers kidnapped from product tanker in West Africa
CHRISTIAN CARLSEN 01.12.20

Four seafarers from the Philippines, Russia and Romania have been kidnapped after pirates attacked a product tanker vessel off the coast of Ghana in West Africa. This is the 24th time this year that seafarers were kidnapped in pirate attacks around the Gulf of Guinea.

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US harassing Chinese crews raises questions of 'discriminatory enforcement'
Gavin van Marle 01/12/2020 https://theloadstar.com/us-harassing-chinese-ship-and-air-crews-raises-q...

UN calls for seafarers to be designated as key workers to resolve crew change crisis
Grant Rowles December 2, 2020 https://splash247.com/un-calls-for-seafarers-to-be-designated-as-key-wor...

The United Nations General Assembly has called on UN Member States to designate seafarers as key workers and implement measures to facilitate crew change.

Covid: Stranded seafarers 'must get Christmas leave'
Justin Parkinson 1 Dec 2020 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55106772

The UK must push other countries to ensure that ship crew stranded because of Covid restrictions get home leave this Christmas, a union has said.

It is estimated that 400,000 seafarers, up to 2,000 of them from the UK, are currently stuck on vessels.

Five priorities for a sustainable ocean economy
Jane Lubchenco,Peter M. Haugan &Mari Elka Pangestu 2 December 2020 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03303-3

Unleash the ocean’s potential to boost economies sustainably while addressing climate change, food security and biodiversity.

UN urges help for virus-stranded ship crews
Agence France-Presse Dec 2, 2020 https://www.rappler.com/world/global-affairs/un-urges-help-virus-strande...

The maritime industry also hopes the qualification will allow seafarers to be among priority groups to benefit from future vaccines against the virus.

POEA resolution grants additional pay to Pinoy seafarers sailing in Gulf of Guinea
Samuel Medenilla November 30, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/30/poea-reso-grants-additional-pay...

Filipino seafarers sailing onboard ships passing at additional locations in the Gulf of Guinea will also soon be entitled with additional benefits, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Development of the Philippine merchant fleet takes the backseat
Brenda V. Pimentel December 2, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/02/business/maritime-business/develo...

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Coronavirus impact on Seafarers could lead to many quitting the industry
Baibhav Mishra - December 1, 2020 https://seanews.co.uk/shipping/seafarers/coronavirus-impact-on-seafarers...

Maritime Professionals’ Union, Nautilus International has stepped up efforts to end the Covid-19 crew change crisis as research shows nearly 90% of British seafarers have been affected by the pandemic and one in two is now considering their future in the industry.

Cash aid for Filipinos to buy food also becomes avenue for corruption
Vann Marlo M. Villegas November 30, 2020 https://www.bworldonline.com/cash-aid-for-filipinos-to-buy-food-also-bec...

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LEO ANGELO V. SACAYAN, a 41-year-old sea-faring sous-chef from Malabon City, got P15,600 in government aid after coming home at the start of the year amid a global coronavirus pandemic.