MARGAO
On the occasion of World Maritime Day, the Goan Seamen Association of India observed the day by highlighting the hardships faced by seafarers due to the ban imposed by some counties on them for joining or signing off due to port restrictions.
GSAI further said most of the seafarers who joined cruise ships are facing crew cut, salary cut, extra hours of work due to Covid-19 and less response from the cruising passengers.
Capt Glen Lacerda, GSAI Vice President, called for prompt action by the shipping companies towards seafarers who are uncomfortable with their daily life. He said some of the Indian seafarers lost jobs due to delay in the vaccination process and resumption of flights.
The world maritime theme for 2021, ‘Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future’ seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future.
IMO has chosen to make 2021 a year of action for seafarers, who are facing unprecedented hardships due to the pandemic, despite their vital role as key workers for global supply chains.
The focus on seafarers comes as the pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on seafarers, with hundreds of thousands of men and women stranded on ships for months beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated due to national travel restrictions.
A similar number of seafarers are unable to join ships and earn a living. This crew change crisis, which has been ongoing for nearly a year, is a humanitarian emergency that threatens the safety of shipping.
