The Bahamas Maritime Authority conducted the Seafarer COVID-19 Welfare Survey, finding that 87% of the respodents are still to receive a first vaccine.
Of the respondents to date, 86% would be willing to have the vaccine if offered and 65% would feel safer if they had been vaccinated.
The reesults also show that more than half of those who have been at sea during the pandemic have been impacted in terms of shore leave and ability to get on or off the vessel.
The aim of the survey is to accurately collect information from front-line seafarers (who will remain anonymous throughout), specifically focusing on their mental health needs before and during the pandemic. The data collected will be analysed and used to understand the challenges our seafarers experienced in order to develop effective solutions that raise awareness and guide international efforts to improve the livelihoods of those who choose to serve at sea
said BMA.
Tom Jenkins, Deputy Director and Head of The BMA’s Investigations Department, added that “the results of the survey will help the industry to formulate the support identified as necessary by seafarers themselves.”
Considering the low numbers o vaccinated seafarers, ECSA and ETF drew the attention of the Ministers of Transport to the recently adopted ILO Resolution on COVID-19 vaccination for seafarers.
Before this call, on the 21st of April 2021, ETF and ECSA issued a Joint Statement on the recognition of seafarers as key workers that reiterates their previous calls for seafarers’ prompt vaccination.
