seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Stuck at sea: How to save the world’s seafarers and the supply systems they support
Kate Whiting 19 Jun 2020

Global action is being urged to stop a humanitarian crisis unfolding at sea.

Crew changes on merchant ships have been stopped for months, putting those onboard at risk of depression and injury.
Industry leaders are calling for stranded seafarers to be recognized as key workers, have visas waived and given access to flights to return home.

As the virus rages on shore, merchant seamen are stranded on board
Jun 18th 2020

The merchant seamen who keep the world warmed and fed are trapped in floating prisons

Prolonged stay at sea of seafarers alarms Marina
Lorenz S. Marasigan June 18, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/06/18/prolonged-stay-at-sea-of-seafar...

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is seeking the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to allow the mass repatriation of Filipino seafarers, as prolonged stay at sea could pose safety occupational and operational risks.

Quarantined seafarers run 200 miles around a hotel bedroom for charity
18/06/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/quarantined-seafarers-run-200-miles...

Three seafarers under mandatory quarantine have used their time to do a charity challenge of 200 miles in 10 days – all in just the small space of their hotel bedrooms.

PHL embassy in Amsterdam helps stranded seafarers
Recto Mercene June 19, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/06/19/phl-embassy-in-amsterdam-helps-...

THE Philippine Embassy in the Netherlands extended assistance to 13 Filipino seafarers who were stranded at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on June 15.

Taiwan investigating reports ship captain assaulted Indonesian sailor
06/18/2020 https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202006180019

Taipei, June 18 (CNA) Taiwan's Fisheries Agency said Thursday that it is investigating Indonesian media reports that a Taiwanese fishing boat captain assaulted an Indonesian crew member while in Sri Lankan waters, and said the man will face criminal charges if the allegations can be verified.

A new threat to global trade: Exhausted crews want off cargo ships now
Hanna Ziady, June 18, 2020 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/18/business/seafarers-shipping-coronavir...

Defend seafaring workers hit hard by pandemic, Pope says
Philip Pullella June 17, 2020 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shipping-seafarers-pope/defend-seafar...

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to hundreds of thousands of seafarers stuck on ships due to the coronavirus pandemic, a situation the United Nations has said poses a risk to the safe operation of the world’s merchant fleet.

A crewing crisis: Cargo ship crews are stuck at sea
Jun 20th 2020

AS YOU READ this, over 60,000 cargo ships are on the high seas, laden with iPhones from China, dresses from Bangladesh, beef from Argentina, oil from the Gulf and much, much more. The industry likes to say that it is responsible for “90% of everything”. Indeed, its ships are the circulatory system of global commerce and their 1.2m merchant seamen its lifeblood. They enable nations to turn their comparative advantage into wealth. If they were to stop, much of humanity would soon begin to starve or freeze.

IMO okays PHL plan on maritime standards
Lorenz S. Marasigan June 17, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/06/17/imo-okays-phl-plan-on-maritime-...

THE International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme (Imsas) Council has approved the Philippines’s strategy in enforcing global maritime standards, a plan that boosts the country’s hurdling of an industry evaluation slated for 2022.