Coronavirus: ‘As much as 2,000 UK seafarers stranded’

As much as 2,000 UK seafarers are stranded on ships all over the world due to coronavirus lockdowns, the trade’s commerce physique has informed the BBC.

The UK Chamber of Delivery needs the UK authorities to change into the primary to enroll to a worldwide plan to get crews residence.

And the Nautilus Worldwide maritime union mentioned seafarers caught on ships for months have been depressed and homesick, “for ever and ever” to their ordeal.

The federal government mentioned it was working to “guarantee” these affected may get residence.

• Seafarers in limbo as coronavirus hits transport

Due to port and air route bans for particular person travellers, lots of the world’s 1.6 million seafarers can’t go residence, whereas aid crews can’t be introduced in.

They’re working previous the top of their contracts and the Worldwide Chamber of Delivery estimates 150,000 of them are caught on board cruisers, transporters, tankers and different vessels.

The UK Chamber of Delivery mentioned as much as 2,000 – or round one in 13 – of the UK’s 25,750 seafarers have been among the many stranded.

It has written to Delivery Minister Kelly Tolhurst, urging the UK authorities to change into the primary on this planet to enroll to the Worldwide Maritime Organisation’s new plan to make sure crew changeovers can resume.

The letter, seen by the BBC, additionally requires seafarers and offshore staff to be exempt from “any potential air journey quarantine restrictions which can be launched”. Getting them house is “more and more taking over a humanitarian dimension”, it provides.

Mark Dickinson, normal secretary of Nautilus Worldwide, mentioned many UK seafarers have been working 90-hour weeks.

He mentioned: “It is a confined office – not the Hilton Resort – for 3, 4 or 5 months. The lodging is pretty primary and also you’re with a small group of individuals.

“You get right into a scenario the place you suppose, ‘I’ve bought six weeks to go,”https://www.bbc.co.uk/”I’ve bought 4 weeks to go,’ and even when that is prolonged by 24 hours it is fairly terrible. It is worse when it is so open-ended.”

Mr Dickinson praised the UK authorities for classifying seafarers as key staff and permitting them to journey by way of the nation’s ports and airports, in contrast to these of many different nations.

He added: “My frustration has been with the governments who faff about, locking issues down with out truly giving any thought to the implications of that.”

A Overseas Workplace spokesperson mentioned it was a “worrying time for British crew on board cruise ships all over the world”, nevertheless it was “primarily the accountability of their employers” to make sure their welfare and security.

They added: “The federal government is in direct contact with these operators in regards to the points, in addition to straight with many crew members and their households, and we are going to proceed to do what we will to make sure UK crew can entry flights residence.”

Ms Tolhurst has mentioned she is in “fixed dialogue” with operators and that seafarers have “responded magnificently” to the coronavirus disaster, “working around the clock to maintain the nation fuelled, fed and provided with very important items”.