seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

SBMA earns P65.73M from crew-change program
Charlene A. Cayabyab January 08, 2022 https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1917556/pampanga/local-news/sbma-earn...

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has generated a total of P65.73 million in income from participating in the government’s crew-change program, which facilitated the safe and speedy travel of Filipino and foreign seafarers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Cases Explode on Cruise Ships: 163 Positive Crew Members on Jewel of the Seas as the Cruise Industry Sputters . . . . to . . . a . . Stop?
Jim Walker January 8, 2022 https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2022/01/articles/disease/covid-19-cases-ex...

New York port hustles to cut rare logjam amid COVID labor woes
Brendan Murray• Bloomberg News • January 8, 2022 https://www.stripes.com/covid/2022-01-08/ny-port-hustles-cut-logjam-amid...

NEW YORK (Tribune News Service) — The Port of New York and New Jersey is working to clear a small but rare bottleneck of container ships anchored off the coast of Long Island as COVID-19 cases among dockworkers collide with a pandemic-fueled surge in cargo volumes.

Old, abandoned ship sinks while being towed ashore
9 Jan 2022 https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2244559/old-abandoned-ship-...

‘Size isn’t an objective for us’: MSC’s Soren Toft
Sam Chambers January 7, 2022 https://splash247.com/size-isnt-an-objective-for-us-mscs-soren-toft/

Soren Toft, CEO of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has passed comment on one of this week’s biggest shipping stories – his company surpassing his old employers, Maersk, at the top of the liner rankings.

Handling of COVID-19 positive crew cases in China
08/01/2022 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/handling-of-covid-19-positive-crew-...

China’s zero-tolerance for COVID-19 and stringent border control continue to have serious consequences for crews and ships calling at the country’s ports – particularly if crew members have tested positive for COVID-19.

Returning seafarer in Iligan City tests positive for Omicron variant
Froilan Gallardo Jan 8, 2022 https://www.rappler.com/nation/returning-seafer-iligan-city-omicron-case/

(1st UPDATE) The unvaccinated 40-year-old seafarer traveled from Kenya to Cebu City, and from Misamis Oriental to Iligan City

Marino party-list seeks gov’t help for 15 Pinoy seafarers detained in France
January 7, 2022 https://politics.com.ph/marino-party-list-seeks-govt-help-for-15-pinoy-s...

The Marino party-list has sought the help of the Department of Labor (DOLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for 15 Filipino seafarers currently detained in France.

Union campaign ensures seafarers exempt from criminal prosecution under new UK immigration Bill
6 January 2022 https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/news/union-campaign-ensures-...

Seafarers will be exempted from criminal prosecution for helping rescue people at sea, following a successful campaign by Nautilus International, with assistance from Maritime UK and the UK Chamber of Shipping.

Cases Rise, Criticism Mounts, but Ships Keep Cruising
Ceylan Yeginsu Jan. 6, 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/travel/coronavirus-cruise-ships-omicr...

One day after the C.D.C. advised against all travel on cruise ships, thousands of cruisers partied like it was 2019. But worries about onboard policies — and frustration over quarantines — are rising.