In light of the UN Day of the Seafarer, Liverpool Seafarers Centre CEO highlights plight of group not considered as key workers despite driving global trade.
As noted, the COVID-19 crisis has triggered a mental health crisis among the world’s seafarers with many considering self-harm or suicide.
Most seafarers work a typical contract length of nine months, but many have now been at sea for up to 15 months due to the pandemic, working on average 10-12 hours a day.
John Wilson, CEO of support body the Liverpool Seafarers Centre, has seen the acute impact of the crew change crisis first-hand.
It’s affected them mentally – you can tell just by their facial expression. Many have had no choice but to extend their contracts and have not been able to get off their vessels.
We saw people become very, very angry at the start of the pandemic when they were told by their recruiting companies that they were not going to be able to go home. One or two of them weren’t far off becoming violent and demanded to get off the ship.
Ships are usually crewed by people of a variety of nationalities, with a typical workforce potentially including Chinese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Indians, Bangladeshis, Poles, Bulgarians, Croatians, Russians and Ukrainians. This COVID-19 situation, would have made it virtually impossible for many to get home, even if they had left the ships.
Crosby-based LSC, which has roots dating back to the 19th Century, supports around 50,000 seafarers passing through Liverpool’s ports each year, offering a safe and secure place to rest as well as practical and emotional support.
Wilson says that crew changes are now happening as international borders reopen, allowing many seafarers to finally return home.
But the problems haven’t gone away: there still are some crew suffering problems with their mental health and feeling suicidal. I’m not saying they’ll go ahead with it, but they feel that enough is enough.
….John Wilson concluded.
