- The COVID-19 pandemic has put seafarers around the world in precarious situations. As of July 2021.
- It is estimated that 250,000 seafarers are currently stranded on ships beyond the end of their original contracts and unable to be repatriated, due to COVID-related travel restrictions.
A recent news article published in the IMO website states that supporting seafarers on the frontline of COVID-19.
Number of seafarers are stuck at home
A similar number of seafarers are stuck at home, unable to join ships and provide for their families. (Click here for our comprehensive FAQ on crew changes and repatriation).
IMO’s Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT) is working to help resolve individual cases, alongside other organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
IMO’s SCAT team works around the clock
IMO’s SCAT team works around the clock – contacting representatives from national governments, NGOs, trade unions or relevant associations, or orienting seafarers towards the right organisation, to find solutions.
To date SCAT has dealt with over 500 cases involving thousands of individual seafarers.
Seafarers and their relatives can contact the SCAT by sending an email to info@imo.org.
Helping Seafarers Go Home – some examples where IMO intervention made a difference. Please click on the title of the story that you would like to read.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: IMO
