In a special video message for seafarers and fishing workers, Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to hundreds of thousands of seafarers who remain stranded onboard due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has left about 200,000 seafarers stranded onboard ships with extended contracts and unable to return home due to travel restrictions.
This unprecedented situation has been severely criticized by the United Nations and international welfare organizations for posing a risk to the safe operation of the world’s merchant fleet.
Francis said the work of maritime personnel and fishermen had been even more important during the pandemic because it was providing the world with food and other primary needs, but it was hit particularly hard by the adverse effects of the pandemic.
Long periods spent aboard ships without being able to disembark, separation from families, friends and native countries, fear of infection…All these things are a heavy burden to bear, now more than ever,
…he said among others.
On Tuesday, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said some seafarers had been marooned at sea for 15 months, in a situation he described as a “humanitarian crisis”. Similarly, UN Secretary General called on all countries to formally designate seafarers and other marine personnel as key workers, to ensure safe crew changes.
Earlier this week, ITF representing seafarers said they will enforce their right to stop working.
