seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

South African authorities investigate claim stowaways abandoned at sea by Chinese bulker
Grant Rowles April 14th, 2020 https://splash247.com/south-african-authorities-investigate-claim-stowaw...

South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and local police have launched an investigation after two Tanzanian nationals claim to have been abandoned at sea by the crew of 2016-built Chinese bulker Top Grace.

Seafarers demand greater levels of personal protective equipment both for themselves and workers they come into contact with in daily operations
Sam Chambers April 14th, 2020 https://splash247.com/seafarers-demand-greater-levels-of-personal-protec...

Piracy and armed robbery a threat to ships’ crews, warns IMB
14/04/2020 https://iccwbo.org/media-wall/news-speeches/piracy-and-armed-robbery-a-t...

7K more PHL seafarers sailing for home
Recto Mercene - April 13, 2020 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/04/13/7k-more-phl-seafarers-sailing-f...

CRUISE ships from Australia, Italy, the Caribbean and the United States are steaming toward Philippine waters to bring home more than 7,000 Filipino seamen, in addition to the nearly 12,000 earlier brought home by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and of Labor.

228 Filipino seafarers from Brazil return home
Apr 13 2020 https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/20/228-filipino-seafarers-from-brazi...

MANILA - More than 200 Filipino seafarers on Monday arrived in Manila from Brazil, bringing the country's total number of repatriates since the outbreak of the COVID-19, to more than 13,000, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Thousands of Indian seafarers stranded due to coronavirus curbs
Sania Farooqui 13 April 2020 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/coronavirus-lockdown-strands-thou...

With the unprecedented lockdown in place, nearly 40,000 Indian crew members across the world are unable to reach home.

Cruise lines told ship workers to carry on as normal as the coronavirus spread. Now, many crew members are infected or unemployed.
Becky Peterson, Mark Matousek and Áine Cain Apr 8, 2020 https://www.businessinsider.com/cruise-line-crew-workers-lose-salaries-b...

Offshore drillers face up to $3bn of contract cancellations
Grant Rowles April 13th, 2020 https://splash247.com/offshore-drillers-face-up-to-3bn-of-contract-cance...

A report by Rystad Energy says that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and oil price war have ravaged global energy markets, and estimates that offshore drillers could see up to 10% of their contract volumes cancelled in 2020 and 2021, representing a total loss of revenue of about $3bn.

Guidelines on health, travel arrangements and repatriation of persons on board ships
April 13, 2020

From cruise ship passengers to cargo vessel crew, many have found themselves stranded at sea or quarantined in ports since the coronavirus pandemic first took hold. The guidelines issued by the European Commission today support these individuals, providing recommendations on health, repatriation and travel arrangements. They also announce the establishment of a network of designated ports for crew changes.

FastCat operator seeks government help to stay afloat
Richmond Mercurio - April 12, 2020 https://www.philstar.com/business/2020/04/12/2006625/fastcat-operator-se...

MANILA, Philippines — Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corp. (APFC), the shipping company that operates FastCat, is seeking assistance from the government and banks as it strives to stay afloat to keep essential goods moving to different islands in the country.