After a year of seafarer mistreatment by governments and ineffective lobbying by the shipping industry, stronger action is now needed urges Captain Rajesh Unni, Founder and CEO of Synergy Group.
Specifically, Captain Unni believes there are simple steps political leaders can take to uphold seafarer human rights.
Repatriation rules
Just how little concern there is for shipping and seafarers was apparent with the tragic case of the Romanian captain of the Vantage Wave. The master tragically passed away on April 19 after suffering a suspected heart attack. There were no suspected Covid-19 complications. However, efforts to repatriate his body were thwarted by lockdown regulations at every turn
Emergency treatment
In addition, finding the means of getting treatment for sick seafarers is often all but impossible, irrespective of any Covid-19 infections on board.
This is not humane by any standards of decency. Often vessels have had to sail a significant distance to find a port or country that will accept them for medical attention. These are the people, key workers, who are keeping nations fed and warm. They are supplying the parts and equipment that are facilitating economic rebounds. Yet when they get sick they are treated in this unconscionable manner
says Captain Unni, adding the the difficulties of crew changeovers make emergency treatments even more difficult.
Vaccine policies
As for vaccines, Captain Unni believes that they should be the solution, but “the failure to implement a global, universal system of rules and procedures is stymying efforts.”
Getting vaccinations for crew is extremely difficult because which ports will allow them ashore to get a jab? Not many is the answer. How many countries which supply seafarers have vaccines they can spare for seafarers who are often relatively young and healthy – none!
Solutions available
Moreover, Captain Unni believes there are simple solutions to some of these problems. Firstly, there is the need for common standards for vaccines that are universally recognised with no delay.
Another solution for the distribution of vaccines would be to empower port health officers to distribute them onboard ships.
Abu Dhabi is apparently offering free vaccines to tourists. If that’s possible, then why can’t we give jabs to seafarers delivering essentials at key port hubs? Establishing vaccine port hubs is not an impossible challenge, but shipping needs more support to make this happen. This is not just for now because we need a global system in place because all these seafarers will eventually need boosters
Political action
Furthermore, Captain Unni would like to see Europe and the US take a firmer lead on helping seafarers. As he explains, EU should use its political influence, economic power and control of global vaccines to ensure that jabs reach all seafarers around the world.
Otherwise, a failure to act will create long-term problems for shipping which could eventually negatively impact the trade on which so many countries depend.
All of this was completely avoidable in the first place if seafarers had been treated as ‘key workers’ and given priority vaccination in their home countries, or in countries which may not supply seafarers but are heavily reliant on shipping and the services seafarers provide. If our political leaders are ever going to stand up for human rights and global trade, now is the time to do so
Captain Unni concludes.
Currently, ICS estimates that 900,000 seafarers are from developing nations with limited vaccine supplies. At present, 12 countries are prioritising seafarers for the vaccine and ports across the United States, and in Belgium and the Netherlands are vaccinating crews delivering goods in their ports, regardless of nationality.
Furthermore, ICS has published a Seafarer Vaccination Roadmap, in which outlines clear steps for how countries around the world can quickly and effectively create seafarer vaccine hubs in their ports.
Meanwhile, the Seafarer International Relief Fund (SIRF), set up by maritime wellbeing charities and supported by ICS, has raised more than $800,000 to support seafarers and their families who have been hard hit by the pandemic.
