seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

SAAF Oryx rescues another seafarer off KZN coast
8th May 2020 https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/military-helicopters/saaf-oryx-re...

A South African Air Force (SAAF) Oryx helicopter from Durban’s 15 Squadron has medically evacuated a sick passenger off a ship along the Durban coastline.

CF Sharp gets 8,000 crew home, says cruises may first resume in Europe
Anne Kalosh | May 07, 2020 https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/cf-sharp-gets-8000-crew-home-says-c...

Sharp Crew Management participated in the complex repatriation of more than 8,000 cruise line crew members from throughout the world, and efforts continue to get more home.
13 charter flights plus commercial flights

Good news as number of crew repatriated to Philippines increases
08/05/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/good-news-as-number-of-crew-repatri...

With reports of exhaustion and burn out among the many seafarers trapped at sea, some heartening news has emerged from Manila this week.

Sharp Crew Management reports it has taken part in the successful repatriation of more than 8,000 cruise industry crew members from throughout the world.

Coast Guard: Quarantine ships, treatment facility in Port Area still COVID-19 free
Betheena Kae Unite May 7, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/07/coast-guard-quarantine-ships-treatment...

The quarantine facilities established in Port Area, Manila remain free from coronavirus disease, the Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday (May 7).

Thousands of Seafarers Stranded by Pandemic Plead for Relief
Costas Paris May 7, 2020 https://www.wsj.com/articles/thousands-of-seafarers-stranded-by-pandemic...

Seafarer returning to Misamis Occidental from Manila tests positive for COVID-19
Divina M. Suson - May 08, 2020 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1271843/seafarer-returning-to-misamis-occi...

ILIGAN CITY –– One of the five seafarers from Misamis Occidental, who went home last week courtesy of the government’s Balik-Probinsya program, has tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Indonesia seeks probe over death of 4 seamen on Chinese vessel
May 8, 2020 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200508/p2g/00m/0in/035000c

JAKARTA (Kyodo) -- The Indonesian government said Thursday it is seeking clarification and investigation from the Chinese and South Korean governments over the deaths of four Indonesian seamen working on a Chinese longliner.

Virus-hit cruise ship arrives in Manila
Tina G. Santos -May 08, 2020 https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1271690/virus-hit-cruise-ship-in-manila

A cruise ship, where infections of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were reported, arrived in the Philippines on Thursday, bringing more than 200 Filipino seafarers, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

IMO issues 12-step plan to get crews home
Sam Chambers May 7th, 2020 https://splash247.com/imo-issues-12-step-plan-to-get-crews-home/

To assist governments to put in place coordinated procedures to facilitate the safe movement of seafarers, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a 12-step plan to 174 member states yesterday, providing them with a roadmap to free seafarers from their Covid-19 lockdown and allow appropriate exemptions for them to join or leave ships.

‘Uncertainty takes a terrible toll’: Seafarers Happiness Index founder
May 7th, 2020 https://splash247.com/uncertainty-takes-a-terrible-toll-seafarers-happin...

Steven Jones, the founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, discusses the mood of crews around the world in the latest episode in the Maritime CEO Leader Series powered by Ocean Technologies Group.

The Q1 report from the index, published earlier this week, had a strong Covid-19 theme to it.