The pandemic that is COVID-19 placed seafarers all over the world in precarious situations. Travel limitations mean some cannot leave their ships, be repatriated house, if not get urgent assistance that is medical. Other seafarers have experienced their agreements unilaterally terminated or have already been quarantined up to speed vessels for over week or two, without getting compensated.

A lot of seafarers, along with their partners and loved ones, have actually reached down to IMO to talk about their issues about many different difficult circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Click on this link for the comprehensive FAQ on team modifications and repatriation).

IMO has generated the Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT) to greatly help resolve cases that are individual frequently working alongside other companies just like the Overseas Labour Organization (ILO), the Overseas Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and also the Overseas Chamber of Shipping (ICS). This dedicated team works around the clock – contacting representatives from national governments, NGOs, trade unions or relevant associations, or orienting seafarers towards the right organisation, to find solutions since the beginning of the crisis. Seafarers and their family relations can contact the SCAT by delivering an e-mail to info@imo.org

Listed below are examples where IMO intervention made a distinction for seafarers around the world.

Assisting Seafarers Go Back Home

Repatriated after significantly more than 100 times overseas

IMO had been contacted by way of a fatigued seafarer for a overseas help vessel. He and several of their peers had invested 100 times offshore – some had already counted 140 times – without any break with no possibility of team modifications. The seafarer had been concerned because their boss had been intending to expand crew agreements by another 2 months.

“we all have been feeling the strains regarding the any period of time overseas particularly having no end date around the corner. To a lot of of us that’s not good and truly sets security in the line”, the seafarer had written in a message to IMO’s Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT).

The SCAT brought the message to your attention associated with relevant NGOs in consultative status with IMO and liaised with all the maritime authorities of this banner and slot States concerned.

After this intervention that is swift IMO, the slot State confirmed it might make the mandatory measures to facilitate crew modification as the ship was in its slot or terminal, additionally the seafarer managed to go back home and get reunited along with his family members.

Protecting seafarers’ psychological state

A seafarer onboard a container ship delivered a call for make it possible to IMO. Their agreement, that has been due to complete at the conclusion of March, was in fact extended for the next thirty days. The seafarer reported that their business had been failing woefully to do something to alter team, also though federal federal government assistance made that choice feasible.

As the seafarer recognised he described serious impacts on their mental health that he and his colleagues were not in a critical situation physically. “we now have dishes, all things are ok, nevertheless the thing that is main our emotional health”, the seafarer told IMO’s Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT) in their very very very first e-mail.

The SCAT referred the seafarer towards the appropriate nationwide maritime management and trade unions, while additionally bringing the problem towards the attention associated with the banner and slot States worried. This intervention that is diplomatic resolve the outcome, therefore the banner State confirmed it could help the seafarer together with his agreement and repatriation.

The seafarer and another crew user had the ability to get back house safely in might. The seafarer warmly thanked a SCAT team member for his help and support, writing: “you are really a man with a big heart” in an email.

A seafarer repatriated to assist her relatives that are vulnerable

A Uk seafarer had been hopeless to be reunited together with her household after months taking care of a passenger ship within the Pacific. Her susceptible family relations home required her help when confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic, and she had been determined become by their side.

But her plan to travel home mid-March had been derailed. Immigration authorities regarding the slot State initially denied authorization to visit, as the guidelines have been changed with very little notice. The seafarer ended up being stuck in the ship at anchor without any method of going back house.

She emailed a plea for assist to IMO. I am so desperate to get home“As I am sure is the case for so many other seafarers right now. My parents and grandmother are susceptible and I also cannot think of any such thing else”, she stated. The seafarer included she feared the situation would also impact her ability to perform her duties as a bridge officer that her mental health was seriously affected, and.

IMO instantly contacted the slot State and seafarer State and informed the relevant NGOs. Those efforts aided resolve the outcome. Because of the efficient cooperation between your local seafarer’s union together with slot State, the seafarer had been permitted to travel house.

The next day, she thanked the Organization and the port State for ensuring she could be reunited with her family in a message sent to IMO. “I am relieved and overjoyed become straight right straight back! Many thanks plenty for the support and help. I’m additionally really grateful to the slot State for enabling me personally to visit, the entire process ended up being well handled and controlled”, she stated.