COVID-19 in its earlier waves was one of the biggest troublemakers in the industry and beyond. While it affected worldwide health, it also contributed to worldwide trade deficits. Now that COVID is back with its new strain in China and several other nations, it's high time that we must decide how to counter and fight this pandemic. Now is the time when rules must be laid, and additional care must be given so that these rules are not affecting the seafarers in their service and thus not constrain the world trade.
SEAFARERS Vs COVID: A WAR OF MANY TRADES
Seafarers are one of the most exposed working class if we talk about the pandemic. Various countries involved in the shipping means that each route is a combination of stringent regulations against the spread of COVID, which sometimes prohibits necessary affairs in the maritime industry like crew changes and shore leaves. As one of the most important working classes, seafarers have to battle these regulations laid by the nations.
There are some lessons we should take away from our previous experiences with COVID. As mentioned by IMO,
"At the height of the pandemic, some 400,000 seafarers were stranded on ships beyond the end of their original contracts and unable to be repatriated, due to COVID-related travel restrictions. A similar number of seafarers were stuck at home, unable to join ships and provide for their families".
To battle, this IMO previously created an entire team called by the name, Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT), which worked in close conjunction with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to help the seafarers who were stranded in international waters to reunite with their families. There are several case studies mentioned on the IMO's website in which IMO has laid several cases of such help and aid by the organisation.
Keeping a light on these events, it is obvious that we need an international free portal where immediate help can be sought by both the seafarers and their families. Additionally, the shipping companies may also provide some services and may take some necessary steps to ensure a balance for the seafarers. Plus, the international community should come together to discuss this on an international stage and come up with decisions which can be followed globally.
CONTAINER CONUNDRUM: WHAT CAN WE DO...?
Container stacking up on ports and ships making long voyages with empty containers just to ensure that the shipping industry is breathing is a situation which we have faced, which got escalated during the pandemic times. In an earlier post, we have seen How COVID choked the logistics industry. Go check it out, we can wait for sure...👀
There were times when over 20000 containers were sitting out in the international waters anchored in the ocean out of the ports for weeks. This not only delayed the logistics but also affected the mental health of the seafarers.
One of the reasons for this is, the absence of small vessels which can also be processed at the smaller ports. As the economy is thriving the shippers are shifting to heavier vessels which means only bigger ports can be used and small ports shrunk in business. This, of course, has catalysed this and COVID only made it worse. We definitely to talk about this too.
SAVING THE INDUSTRY IN THE PANDEMIC
We all need the shipping industry to be working and to be agile in these sensitive times. What we can do is simply provide the industry what it wants. There are certain changes required in the ways the industry works and we must get together in unison to provide it to the industry. Several maritime nations should come together and discuss viable choices and the regulations must be given some favours to the seafarers.
