seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

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.

1,000 more Filipino seamen come home amid virus pandemic
Charmaine A. Tadalan April 13, 2020 https://www.bworldonline.com/1000-more-filipino-seamen-come-home-amid-vi...

MORE than a thousand more Filipinos from the US, Dubai, Indonesia and Barbados have come home amid a COVID-19 pandemic that has sickened 1.8 million and killed more than 114,000 people worldwide, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Seafarers and the COVID-19 stigma
ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO -|April 14,2020 https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/302381/seafarers-and-the-covid-19-stigma

The outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is causing a more problematic side of society – social stigma and discrimination against certain sectors, including seafarers.

NYK First: Internally Trained Seafarer Promoted to Captain
4/04/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/nyk-first-internally-trained-seafar...

NYK announced the promotion of Akihiro Mori to the position of captain, effective April 1, 2020.

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.