I learned about the Yellow Fleet the other day. The crews of 12 ships stranded in the Suez Canal after the Six Days War. They were stranded for 8 years.
Puts the pandemic into perspective
The ships were certainly stuck there, but according to the Wiki of a Thousand Lies:I learned about the Yellow Fleet the other day. The crews of 12 ships stranded in the Suez Canal after the Six Days War. They were stranded for 8 years.
Puts the pandemic into perspective
You're assuming thats not a picture on a galley menuGood job they weren't on a Chinese ship
Is the food on board cheep?
Good job they weren't on a Chinese ship
Many particularly 3rd world crews are on 1 year contracts, quite possible even probable many had been in the later part of thier year when this hit."Up to 400,000 seafarers have been trapped on board cargo ships during the Covid pandemic, some for more than 18 months " - Puts 12 ships in the Suez Canal into perspective (although I am not quite sure how you can have been trapped for 18 months by a pandemic that has been declared for less than 12 months...... although i think we know what they mean.
Some seafarers have been stuck aboard for 14 months or longer with few or no opportunities for shore leave. Crew changes are happening but there are still alot of problems in some ports around the world. In my day job I'm a CEO of an international seafarer welfare charity. We work with the ITF Seafarers Trust, who organised the photo competition, ship owners, unions, and the seafarer missions. There is a real problem with the mental wellbeing of seafarers deteriorating.Many particularly 3rd world crews are on 1 year contracts, quite possible even probable many had been in the later part of thier year when this hit.
Repatriation, of 3rd world crews, may not be high on priority lists. And not easy. With flight and travel restrictions.
I would expect most reputable companies still try.
Double-edged sword. Many seafarers may not be getting work they had relied upon. Because they can’t get to ships.
cruise ships crews, probably heavily effected reduced to minimum manning for maintenance until who knows when.
many other types of ship are still operating.
I habitually count the ships at anchor when walking the mutt every afternoon.
things are clearly slower, very unusual to see box boats anchored for days.
but they still come and go.
life on board is probably much more restricted than it was prior to this. Many modern ships have limited opertunity for the crew to go ashore. Few 3rd world crews can afford to go ashore in the western world, except for a visit to the flying angle or stall maris. Or botlecks if it still exists.
Geting ashore now must be very restricted. Plus adds risk of bringing the COVID on board,
I think the lack of opportunity to get ashore would be one of the most noticeable effects. P
I know there are other issues to consider but are most of them at least getting paid?Some seafarers have been stuck aboard for 14 months or longer with few or no opportunity for shore leave. Crew changes are happening but there are still alot of problems in some ports around the world. In my day job I'm a CEO of an international seafarer welfare charity. We work with the ITF Seafarers Trust, who organised the photo competition, ship owners, unions, and the seafarer missions. There a real problem with the mental wellbeing of seafarers deteriorating.
The ones who are still working are but imagine being stuck with 20 or so of your work colleagues 24 hours a day, 7 days week for 14 months! Most of them want to go home back to their families.I know there are other issues to consider but are most of them at least getting paid?