ITF News Update – 2nd to 10th September
Queensland: Australian-first COVID vaccinations for international seafarers | ITF Seafarers – 2nd September
Queensland will become the first Australian jurisdiction to administer COVID vaccines to all international seafarers arriving in local ports, with a trial program commencing in the coming weeks aimed at reducing the risk of serious illness and community transmission.
Neptune Indicator Points To Stabilization Of The Crew Change Crisis As Seafarer Vaccination Rate Rises | Hellenic Shipping News – 2nd September
Travel restrictions, flight cancellations and domestic lockdowns continue to prevent seafarers from going back home. This is according to reporting from the world’s top ship managers provided for the Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator. But there could be light at the end of the tunnel. After months of deterioration, the September Indicator shows that the number of seafarers onboard vessels beyond the expiry of their contract has slightly decreased from 9.0% to 8.9% in the last month. Similarly, the number of seafarers onboard vessels for over 11 months has slightly decreased from 1.3% to 1.2%.
Labor Day salute to those who keep maritime commerce moving | Galveston News – 3rd September
On this Labor Day, let’s take a moment to recognize the thousands of men and women who work on the Galveston waterfront to keep our economy moving. We would not be the fourth most popular cruise port in North America or a major Texas cargo port without our dedicated maritime workforce.
https://www.galvnews.com/business/free/article_19014ba1-8805-535a-8d19-c3f817bde843.html
Chinese captain bars Indian crew from boarding ship at Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada port | Times of India – 4th September
For more than one month, a Chinese national, who is the master of a cargo ship anchored at Kakinada port, has been denying a five-member Indian crew from boarding the vessel as part of a mandatory change of crew
Shipping industry absent from decision-makers priorities: Greek shipowners | Seatrade Maritime News – 6th September
Controlling the world’s largest fleet and the backbone of European Union shipping and a cornerstone of seaborne trade, Greek shipowners contend “shipping merits the recognition and support it deserves in line with its status and contribution to international trade and world prosperity”.
MoTC, International Transport Workers’ Federation discuss cooperation | The Peninsula Qatar – 6th September
Doha: Assistant Undersecretary of Maritime Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), Dr. Saleh bin Fetais Al Marri, met with a delegation from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
The meeting, which was held at the Ministry’s headquarters, discussed aspects of boosting cooperation between the Ministry and the Federation as well as all necessary means to support seafarers.
Persistent Bullies Should Be Removed from Ships | G Captain – 6th September
A zero-tolerance approach to bullying should be in place on all vessels, with abusive crew members removed from the ship if they repeatedly harass a colleague, according to some mental health experts.
https://gcaptain.com/persistent-bullies-should-be-removed-from-ships/
The sinking of MV GULF LIVESTOCK 1, missing seafarers and the presumption of death | Cebu Daily News – 7th September
The Panama-flagged livestock carrier GULF LIVESTOCK 1 capsized in southwest Japan on September 2, 2020 during the typhoon Maysak, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of at least 130 mph.
Pirate attack in Gabon: 2 Indian seafarers suffer injusry; another feared to be kidnapped | Business Line – 7th September
The St Kitts and Navis flagged ship M V Tampen was attacked. Two Indian seafarers were injured while a third was reportedly kidnapped by pirates during attack on an offshore supply vessel at Owendo Anchorage in Gabon on September 6.
Ship stranded off Karachi coast refloated | The Express Tribune – 7th September
A stranded container ship on Karachi beach was finally refloated after seven weeks at the fifth successful attempt on Tuesday.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2319025/ship-stranded-off-karachi-coast-refloated-after-49-days
The invisible seafarers of Covid for revival of the economy | The Medi Telegraph – 8th September
The current risk is that the situation could deteriorate again, with the increasing spread of the variants of Covid-19. The seafarers are raising the white flag, they are legitimately exhausted, in these conditions many refuse to board and many are seeking alternative employment
The International Bargaining Forum concludes negotiations, recognising seafarers’ Covid sacrifice | ITF Seafarers – 9th Septmeber
The ITF and JNG met from 1-3 September 2021 for important negotiations on wage increase and other cost elements. Due to the pandemic, the social partnership had agreed to defer the start of the negotiations for the period 2021-2022, initially scheduled for March 2020.
If seafarers are key workers, why aren’t they being treated like them? | Splash 247 – 9th Septmeber
The scale of the problem is colossal. Around 200,000 seafarers were still stranded on commercial vessels at the end of May 2021 according to the IMO, with contracts repeatedly extended beyond the original expiry of their commitments. We have seen some cases where seafarers were barred from leaving their vessels for emergency medical treatment during the early stages of the pandemic, and safe manning rules have created additional costs – often well into five figures – when seafarers have been permitted to leave for treatment.
https://splash247.com/if-seafarers-are-key-workers-why-arent-they-being-treated-like-them/
Suicides Aboard Ships Are Rising At An Unprecedented Rate | G Captain – 9th September
By John Konrad (gCaptain) On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, suicides aboard ships are rising at an unprecedented rate. Are we doing enough to help mariners in mental distress at sea?
https://gcaptain.com/suicide-seafarers-distress-at-sea/
One dead and two missing after passenger ferries collide on Brahmaputra river in India | The Independent – 9th September
A boat carrying dozens of passengers sank in the Brahmaputra river in the northeast Indian state of Assam after it collided with another ferry on Wednesday, leading to the death of at least one person.
https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/ferry-accident-brahmaputra-river-assam-b1916952.html
Not enough has changed with crew rotations | Splash 247 – 10th September
Studies indicate that of the estimated 1.7 million seafarers worldwide, over half come from countries where vaccination programmes lag behind those of richer nations. Many cannot access the vaccines that would facilitate their passage to and from ships.
https://splash247.com/not-enough-has-changed-with-crew-rotations/