seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

11 Filipino tugboat crew from China quarantined in Dumaguete
Mary Judaline Partlow February 5, 2020 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093012

DUMAGUETE CITY – A total of 11 Filipino crewmembers of a tugboat that arrived from China on Tuesday night were quarantined inside the vessel off the coast here amid the threat of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The tugboat is one of three vessels that were purchased by a Makati City-based firm and are now in the province for conversion from foreign to domestic flag.

Taiwan bans international cruise ships from docking
Reuters February 6, 2020 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/world/725031/taiwan-bans-internatio...

TAIPEI - Taiwan's health authority banned all international cruise ships from docking at the island from Thursday amid increasing threat of the coronavirus outbreak, after 10 more people were tested positive for the virus on a quarantined cruise liner in Japan.

Filipino seafarers arriving from China banned from disembarking amid nCoV threat
Betheena Unite February 4, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/04/filipino-seafarers-arriving-from-china...

Filipino seafarers will have to endure staying on their vessels and not seeing their families when they reach their home ports as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) banned them from doing so amid the novel coronavirus (nCoV) threat.

Seafarers Complain of Racism and Lack of Shore Leave
01-28-2020 https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/seafarers-complain-of-racism-...

The Seafarers Happiness Index published by The Mission to Seafarers this week highlights crew concerns about racism and a lack of support dealing with it along with concerns about a lack of shore leave to relieve stress.

New initiative provides free wifi for seafarers calling at Sydney
Sam Chambers February 5th, 2020 https://splash247.com/new-initiative-provides-free-wifi-for-seafarers-ca...

An Australian-first initiative to provide a wifi signal and internet access for visiting seafarers on ships visiting Australian ports called Seafarer Connect has been launched in Sydney at a meeting of the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

Quarantine for cargo ships from any port lifted
February 5, 2020 | https://www.bworldonline.com/quarantine-for-cargo-ships-from-any-port-li...

THE BUREAU of Quarantine (BoQ) has exempted all cargo ships from the required 14-day quarantine amid the novel coronavirus (nCoV) threat in consideration of the country’s supply chain, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said on Wednesday.

Coast Guard rescues injured man off cargo ship near Hatteras Island
February 5, 2020 https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/coast-guard-rescues-injured...

A cargo ship crew member called the Coast Guard after a man was found injured and semi-conscious on the ship.

General cargo ship sank in Indonesian waters, crew rescued
Erofey Schkvarkin February 5, 2020 http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/02/05/general-cargo-ship-sank-in-in...

Maritime charity issues Coronavirus guidance for its ship visitors
31st January 2020 received via email

Global maritime charity has issued guidance for its GB port chaplains and ship visitors following the outbreak of the Coronavirus. The charity also deploys chaplains on cruise ships to support crew welfare.

Media have reported the detention of thousands of passengers and crew on the cruise ship, the Costa Smeralda, the fifth largest cruise ship in the world in the port of Civitavecchia, near Rome, following a suspected corona virus case.

Coronavirus Fears Hit U.S. Gas Exporters
February 5, 2020 https://gcaptain.com/coronavirus-fears-hit-u-s-gas-exporters/?utm_campai...

(Bloomberg) — A grim situation for U.S. natural gas exporters has gotten even worse as the coronavirus outbreak sends global prices plunging on concern that China’s demand for the fuel will collapse.