This Thursday, as the Secretary-General of the United Nations addresses the General Assembly in New York, there is a whole grim list of Covid-19 related issues that he cannot avoid. But few are so pressing as what has become known as the “Maritime...
Misery, loneliness and despair are some of the emotions that huge numbers of seafarers are suffering this World Maritime Day.
Crew changes on ships at Vizhinjam port, on the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, have been stalled by the muscle power displayed by a local steamer agent, which has set up its own association to carve out a monopoly on the activity.
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) have jointly contributed $500,000 to a Singapore fund to support countries in best practices for crew change.
Eastern European seafarer supply nations have experienced a surge in demand from shipowners and managers for officers and ratings due to the Covid-19 lockdowns in India and Philippines.
With the resumption of production and work amid Covid-19 pandemic, shipowners in China are seeing the improvement in business, however, crew change has become a major concern.