ITF News Update – 28th October to 4th November
Sea-Intelligence: Two-Thirds of All Containerships Are Behind Schedule | Maritime Executive 28th October
Global port congestion and backlogs continue to play havoc on liner schedules. According to new data from Sea-Intelligence schedule reliability remains at the low end of the range seen in 2021. In September, two out ever three vessels were behind schedule with the number of days delayed also remaining at the highest levels.
The seafarers keeping the supply chain moving aren’t getting the vaccines they need | Quartz – 29th October
When the Covid vaccine became available in Smrutiranjan Nanda’s home state of Odisha, in India, he took it, getting the first shot in March, and the second in April. It was a relief. India was in the midst of a brutal wave of the virus fueled by the Delta variant, and he had lost his mother to Covid. He did not want to be infected.
https://qz.com/2079677/vaccine-issues-for-seafarers-are-worsening-the-supply-chain-crisis/
Finding More Water For The Panama Canal | G Captain – 31st October
Ilya Espino de Marotta has never shied from challenging convention. A Panamanian engineer who roams the locks of her country’s magnificent canal in a bright-pink hardhat (“a message that yes, I’m a girl and I can do this job”), she’s consistently rejected groupthink, helping propel her to executive vice president—second-in-command—of the Canal Authority.
https://gcaptain.com/finding-water-panama-canal/
Modern Piracy Is A Threat To The Lives And Livelihoods Of Seafarers | Hellenic Shipping News – 1st November
While reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery are down to their lowest level in decades, violence against crew remains high in many areas of the world. A Gard correspondent was recently called to attend onboard a ship where crew members had been severely beaten by robbers during a stay at the Conakry Anchorage, Guinea.
Seafarers Get A Shot At Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine | Newsy – 1st November
A ship inspector with the Seafarers International Union came up with the idea to give seafarers an opportunity to get the COVID vaccine.
https://www.newsy.com/stories/seafarers-at-l-a-long-beach-port-offered-covid-19-vaccine/
Mariners Can Now Get Covid-19 Vaccines at Port After Months Stranded at Sea | Wall Street Journal – 1st November
Crews on cargo ships are receiving shots world-wide, preventing more supply-chain disruptions and allowing them to finally disembark
Maritime must be safe for women: ITF calls for industry to work with seafarers as assault case reverberates | ITF Seafarers – 2nd November
A brave female cadet recently published the horrific experiences of sexual assault she endured on board a vessel while attending the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The incident and response she details brings shame on the shipping industry and underlines the urgent need for action to eliminate violence in the workplace.
Crew change problems continue | Marine Log – 2nd November
New national lockdowns, an increase in flight cancelations, travel restrictions, and increasingly strict crew change requirements, especially in Asia, are preventing seafarers from going back home after completing their contracts. This is despite a strong increase in vaccine rates during the last month, ship managers report.
https://www.marinelog.com/legal-safety/shipping/crew-change-problems-continue/
Ship Queues Worsen Port Delays From Singapore to Greece | Transport Topics – 2nd November
The world’s largest shipping hubs are suffering elevated levels of congestion as containers pile up at seaports from Singapore to Greece’s Piraeus.
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/ship-queues-worsen-port-delays-singapore-greece
China’s zero Covid policy increases crew change woes | Seatrade Maritime News – 3rd November
Improving figures for crew change and seafarer vaccination numbers belie growing difficulties for Chinese crew due to strict isolation measures.
Crew change difficulties remain strong despite improving seafarer vaccination rates, points Neptune Indicator | Hellenic Shipping News – 3rd November
New national lockdowns, an increase in flight cancellations, travel restrictions, and increasingly strict crew change requirements, especially in Asia, are preventing seafarers from going back home after completing their contracts. This is despite a strong increase in vaccine rates during the last month, ship managers report.
COVID-19 – MPA updates crew change guidance and issues new requirements for ships arriving in Singapore | Hellenic Shipping News – 3rd November
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has made further updates to its requirements for cargo ships undertaking crew changes in Singapore. The new Port Marine Circular PMC 39 supersedes its PMC No. 38 of 2021 and PMC…
Seafarers globally recognised during Seatrade Awards ceremony | Seatrade Maritime News – 3rd November
Seafarers globally have been recognised for their dedication and professionalism during the past 18 months during yesterday’s 32nd Seatrade Awards which took place for the first time in association with Lloyd’s List.
Tough renewed anti-Covid measures limit Chinese seafarer availability | Splash 247 – 3rd November
Chinese seafarers, among the world’s largest resources of crew, are facing renewed severe hurdles to get on and off ships, in the latest battle shipping is facing in the ongoing crew change crisis.
https://splash247.com/tough-renewed-anti-covid-measures-limit-chinese-seafarer-availability/
Crew Change and the future of shipping streamlining processes | Ship Technology – 4th November
Singapore-based platform Greywing has developed a new technology called Crew Change to help companies make smarter changes around Covid-19 regulations. We profile the technology and how it could become fundamental for the future of shipping streamlining processes.
https://www.ship-technology.com/features/crew-change-and-future-shipping-streamlining-processes/
16 Crewmembers Abandoned Without Food or Wages at Port of Mombasa | Maritime Executive – 4th November
International seafarers’ charity Stella Maris is calling attention to the plight of 16 abandoned crewmembers aboard a fishing vessel that has been stuck in Kenya’s Mombasa port since March – the latest incident in a wave of abandonment cases at the bottom end of the maritime industry.
ITF: 11 Crewmembers Abandoned on Sinking Bulker Off Somalia | Maritime Executive – 4th November
An aging bulker and its crew have been abandoned off of a far-flung foreign port, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation, and this particular case is worse than most: the location is inside of the Somali piracy high-risk zone, and the vessel is actively taking on water.
Global logistics crisis boosts smaller UK ports, operator says | Reuters – 4th November
Global supply chain disruption is changing cargo flows coming into Britain and smaller ports such as Liverpool are benefiting as suppliers look for other ways to route cargoes and minimise disruptions, Liverpool port’s operator said.