seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

COVID-19 – Maritime sector shows resilience
16/04/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/covid-19-maritime-sector-shows-resi...

Over 106,000 people have lost their lives as reported on the WHO COVID-19 dashboard due to the pandemic.

In these challenging times, the Maritime sector under the guidance of the IMO, ILO and other industry bodies have issued guidance to ensure that the world-trade continues while ensuring safety for the seafarer, ship and the environment.

Protectionism is alive and well in the maritime industry
Edwin Lampert 13 Apr 2020 https://www.rivieramm.com/opinion/protectionism-is-alive-and-well-in-the...

We talk about freedom of the seas – however, there can be no doubt that protectionism, in varying forms, has its hold on the maritime industry.

Bumaligtad! DENR lifts suspension, allows Chinese-manned vessel to load minerals in E. Samar despite lockdown
Sidney Cruz April 14, 2020 https://www.themanilastar.com/2020/04/bumaligtad-denr-lifts-suspension-a...

Foreign cruise ships with Filipino crew now allowed to dock in Manila ports
Darryl John Esguerra - April 16, 2020 https://globalnation.inquirer.net/186904/foreign-cruise-ships-with-filip...

al press briefing Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the policy was approved during the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) handling the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

301 more Filipino seafarers repatriated amid COVID-19 pandemic
Ian Biong -April 14, 2020 https://globalnation.inquirer.net/186839/301-filipino-seafarers-repatria...

MANILA, Philippines — Some 301 seafarers were repatriated on Tuesday, in addition to the over 13,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been sent home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

‘Nobody Cares About the Little People’: Cruise Crews File Covid-19 Suit
Frances Robles April 14, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/coronavirus-cruise-ship-crew-lawsu...

Nearly 80,000 crew members are stranded on 100 cruise ships amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many passengers have been evacuated.

Coronavirus Leaves Cruise Ship Workers in Limbo: Out of a Job but Still at Sea
Dave Sebastian and Costas Paris April 14, 2020

Ships that can’t carry passengers have 80,000 workers stranded on board; celebrating Easter with co-workers

A month after major cruise operators suspended their sailings, tens of thousands of crew workers remain stranded at sea indefinitely, raising the prospect that some will stop getting paid before they reach shore.

Philippine government flips local officials’ entry ban for mining ship
14 April 2020 https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/philippine-government-flips-local-offi...

Facing the challenge called Covid-19
Ambassador Carlos Salinas April 15, 2020

Reflecting on the possible impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) on the future of humanity, Israeli historian, philosopher and best-selling author Yuval Noah Harari called it “perhaps the biggest crisis of our generation” and “the worst epidemic in at least 100 years,” and said “the decisions people and governments take in the next few weeks will probably shape the world for years to come.”

Marina extends validity of seafarer certificates
Genivi Factao April 15, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/04/15/business/maritime-business/marina...

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has extended the validity of seafarer certificates up to six months to help seafarers in dealing with difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic.