On World Maritime Day this year, the message once again from the seafarer community was to recognize them as key workers. They have stood tall in times of adversity when the world continues to be ravaged by the deadly Covid-19 virus. Union Minister for Shipping, Mansukh Mandaviya lauded the role and sacrifice during the pandemic while sending out greetings of the day. Even during these dark times, the 2 million seafarers across the world have shown professionalism and went about their job of shipping, including transporting essential goods and medical supplies. Shipping was the leading facilitator of the global economy, carrying more than 80% of global trade.
It is on this day that seafarers need to be saluted for silently enduring challenges and surviving an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It was no less than torture to be holed up on board vessels due to travel restrictions at international destinations. That’s not all. Worse was pain and despair awaiting on the other side because many of them lost jobs, salaries and several others faced an uncertain future.
Every year on September 24, World Maritime Day is observed to understand the importance of the marine environment. It focuses on the impact of industries on oceans and marine life, and dwells on the well-being of seafarers who are constantly at sea. A large seafarer community in Goa, on this day, will find no reason to celebrate this time. They will find no meaning in the greetings and goodwill showered, neither will they find meaning in the theme ‘sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet’, because the scars of lockdown are yet to heal.
Lest we forget, seafarers were meted out inhuman treatment and governments failed to understand their plight, dilly-dallying on the repatriation process. Governments not only failed to take ownership of their citizens when vessels were docked in national waters but considerably delayed the expatriation process when other nations swiftly brought back citizens. Ironically, the State government was flipping through the pages of SOPs trying to tighten and tweak them, because Goa was in the green zone then. Cries and appeals fell on deaf ears, and they were treated as second-class citizens in their homeland.
This maritime day when there's a shout-out of greetings and congratulatory messages, seafarers will recount the cries of their families which went unheard. The seafarer being a significant contributor to the State’s economy is buried in the sands of time. The plight of retired seafarers who have not been paid their pension since October last year despite umpteen assurances by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is an example.
To add to the misery, seafarers will now feel distraught because of the uncertainties of their jobs. Going by figures provided by the directorate general of shipping, there were around 2,500 seafarers who lost jobs between March 30 and May 30. With a grim Covid scenario worldwide, they will have to wade through this crisis with the brightest of hope.
