Accessibility.SkipToMainContent
Health and safety

Collective crew changes at designated ports needed to relieve 100,000 'fatigued' seafarers, says Union

16 April 2020

Nautilus is supporting calls for collective crew changes at designated ports, which it says are urgently needed to relieve tired Merchant Navy seafarers enabling world trade during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nautilus Dutch officials have highlighted how 2,500 Nautilus members are among the 100,000 global Merchant Navy crew now tiring as they face the prospect of extended contracts and no prospect of immediate relief, and few flights home even if they do - due to national restrictions.

Nautilus executive officer Sascha Meijer told Dutch news site Schuttevaer 'almost nowhere is being relieved' as crews changes were denied due to lockdown measures.

'Sailors generally accept [isolation at sea] for quite a long time,' said Ms Meijer. 'Now with the coronavirus pandemic, they try and encourage themselves mentally by saying that "it's better to stay on board, that you're safe there".

'But if it takes too long, fatigue comes around the corner and fatigue is not good for safety on board. If we don't get those changes going, it will eventually become socially and medically unsustainable, and too unsafe.'

In recent weeks, Nautilus International has been lobbying intensively with other unions and industry worldwide to find solutions to the problem of restrictions on crew changes caused by the coronavirus.

Ms Meijer said the Union is supporting initiatives at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO), but that now 'states must create solutions to allow these vital workers to move forward'.

Nautilus is advocating for designated ports 'where crews can be changed collectively, where people can go ashore and where there is medical screening; where transportation gets underway and people can fly home safely,' she said.

The radio programme also featured second mate Bob Kuipers, who works on a ship unloading in the port of Maracaibo in Venezuela. He is normally on board for four months, but he now expects that to reach up to five months.

'The uncertainty is a tricky one. Not only for myself on board, but also for the home front. The family asks: when will you come home? Right now, there is no one who knows [the answer].'

Mr Kuipers added: 'We would like to see an international solution, so that [crew] replacements can simply take place again. Because as a profession we are vital to world trade and the world economy, but many colleagues are stuck on board in the meantime. Their term has run out, but they can't go home.'


Tags

More articles

Featured
Health and safety

Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus

  • Telegraph
  • 17 March 2021
Health and safety

Nautilus helps produce topical new guidance on seafarer wellbeing

  • Telegraph
  • 15 April 2020
Government

European Commission approves 'Green Lane' system for free movement of transport workers

In the face of declarations from several EU countries that they will be closing their borders during the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Commission is insisting that there must still be cross-border movement of freight on land and at sea to ensure the delivery of essential supplies.

  • News
  • 24 March 2020
Members at work

Ruby Princess crew receive welcome humanitarian support

Crew members stranded onboard a cruise ship at the heart of a possible Covid-19 related criminal case in Australia, have received welcome support from the local New South Wales maritime community after a relief effort supported by a tug engineer.

  • News
  • 16 April 2020
International

Severe drop in global trade predicted as crisis continues

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has predicted a global slump in trade ranging from 13 to 32 percent in 2020, due to the disruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.

  • News
  • 16 April 2020
Welfare

Stella Maris reassures seafarers during pandemic

The maritime welfare charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) is has reassured seafarers that it will continue to support them with practical help and pastoral care during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • News
  • 15 April 2020
International

Japan issues crew change and ship delivery bans to 73 countries

Japan has issued extraordinary travel bans covering 73 nations including the Philippines, whose seafarers account for almost three quarters of all crew on Japan's merchant fleet.

  • News
  • 15 April 2020
Members at work

Union flags concerns over yacht crews' access to financial aid and repatriation

Nautilus has flagged concerns over the potential for yachties' to be locked out of government financial support schemes, while facing job losses due to minimum manning requirements and difficulties securing repatriation.

  • News
  • 15 April 2020
International

French unions seek urgent repatriation of crews

Concerns voiced over the consequences of the coronavirus crisis on the health and wellbeing of crews languishing on ships blocked abroad.

  • News
  • 15 April 2020
International

EU urged to ease crew changes during coronavirus pandemic

Maritime unions and shipowners have called on European governments to act together to facilitate crew changes during the global coronavirus pandemic.

  • News
  • 14 April 2020
International

Governments urged to identify seafarers as keyworkers during coronavirus pandemic

Maritime unions and employers have issued a joint statement calling on governments to urgently define seafarers as keyworkers during the current global coronavirus pandemic, and to ensure that they are exempt from the normal travel restrictions so that crew changes can take place.

  • News
  • 14 April 2020
Health and safety

ITF calls for affiliates to share best practices in supporting seafarers during Covid-19 pandemic

Seafarer unions globally have been asked to share their government's best practices on dealing with the Covid-19 global health emergency.

  • News
  • 23 March 2020
Health and safety

ITF green lights crew contract extensions

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) will green light the extension of Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEAs) for up to one month in response to Covid-19 containment strategies.

  • News
  • 17 March 2020