- Ship managers and owners are deferring crew changes due to COVID-19.
- Wallem CEO has taken to social media to share the plea of a Master on behalf of his crew.
- Masters are eagerly looking for sign off at the earliest even to divert the ship.
- They are also not eager or willing to sign an extension of the contract.
- Coles has urged authorities to take notice and prepare to help the crew at sea.
According to an article published in Seatrade Maritime News, many ship managers and owners defer crew changes due to the current difficulties in doing so as a result of measures to try and stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pleas of a master
Wallem CEO Frank Coles has taken to social media to share the plea of a Master on behalf of his crew.
In the post on LinkedIn Coles stated that what he was posting was a direct quote from an email from a Master and that this was a mental health and safety issue at sea. The Master said that he and his crew due for sign off were, “in a state of mental turmoil due to indefinite delay in our relief on account of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic restrictions”.
Sign off contracts to divert the ship
“Everyone is eagerly looking for sign off at the earliest even if we require to divert the ship and not willing to sign an extension of the contract.” The inability to be with family during in these difficult times was highlighted. “I am personally very much disturbed for not being able to support my family during this hour of need.”
The inability to be with family during these difficult times was highlighted. “I am personally very much disturbed for not being able to support my family during this hour of need.”
Authorities urged to take notice
Meanwhile, Coles asked when the authorities were going to take notice and who was prepared to help the crew at sea.
Last week the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) wrote an open letter to four United Nations (UN) bodies calling on crew changes to be facilitated and seafarers to recognized as “key workers”.
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Source: SeatradeMaritimeNews
