With many seafarers facing a second December away from home, Nautilus is urging government and industry to carry out as many crew changes as possible to ‘deliver seafarers home for Christmas’.
Currently, 400,000 seafarers are thought to be stranded on ships worldwide due to inability to travel to and from vessels during the COVID-19 crisis. Research by the Nautilus shows that almost all seafarers have been directly affected by the pandemic.
Nautilus International has received many requests for support from these seafarers, who have been dealing with issues such as exhaustion, redundancy, and cuts to pay and conditions. Many have either been stranded at sea, away from their loved ones, or trapped at home where they are unable to earn a living.
In a new campaign, Nautilusis launching a petition which calls governments and the United Nations to work together to ensure that seafarers are designated as key workers in every country, and to enable global crew changes to take place.
Our members work hard to supply food, medicines – and to deliver Christmas – to households. They often do so without much acknowledgement or public recognition
stated Nautilus International general secretary Mark Dickinson.
He also added that, this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented levels of stress, fatigue and safety concerns as countries are closing their borders and prevent them from seeing loved ones.
Normally at this time of year we remind people that seafarers deliver them Christmas. This year we are calling on everyone to deliver seafarers home for Christmas