Tag Archives: seafarers

Seafarers Grateful for Le Havre Support Initiative

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Seafarers calling at Port of Le Havre are very appreciative of an initiative started by local associations and private operators providing moral support during their call at Le Havre.

“As we had our call in Le Havre on March 17, we were really overwhelmed by the warmth of your welcome. Of course, we really appreciated the baguettes and croissants, but the (entire) gesture filled us with joy. We as seafarers are still appreciated!” the captain of the tanker Scheldedijk wrote in a letter to Seamen’s club Le Havre.

The captain added that, during the pandemic, the life of seafarers is uncomfortable, with no permission to leave the ship at ports.

“Our Filipino crew serve mostly quite long contracts and, if you are not allowed to go ashore for some diversion, life can be tough!” the captain wrote. “Please don’t underestimate the gesture of your visit onboard our good ship Scheldedijk and the nice surprise treat; it really meant a lot to us. And also, many thanks for helping us go to the supermarket and the nice talks in the Seamen’s club.”

According to Port of Le Havre, the initiative – started on March 15 – includes a French breakfast with fresh baguettes, croissants, jam and other delicacies delivered to the ships, as well as a supportive message to the captain and crew.

The surprise and happiness are great and go well beyond this ‘gourmet box’, as shown by the many grateful messages received, the port said.

“We know what (seafarers) endure with extended duration of service onboard without a clear prospect of going back home, and more often without being able to set a foot ashore during port calls. … Initiated by the Propeller Club of Le Havre and thanks to engagement from Seamen’s Club’s volunteers and employees, more than 70 ships, i.e. around 1,500 worldwide seafarers, are now aware that, in our port, we don’t forget them,” Port of Le Havre wrote in a press release.

Many Governments Failing Cruise Crew Repatriation

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Crew Transfer Between Vessels

“The challenges in repatriating seafarers on cruise vessels around the world have highlighted the shortcomings of many governments in this worldwide crisis,” Lena Dyring, director of cruise operations for the Norwegian Seafarers Union, told Cruise Industry News. “These shortcomings have caused a toxic, compounding domino effect for seafarers who were and still are stuck on cruise ships around the world and caused a lot of human suffering.”

Dyring said that first of all she wanted to highlight how the Bahamas has acted.

“They have not allowed repatriation from their territory, thus failing their obligations under the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC). They boast that they have ‘allowed’ the ships to anchor in their waters and have crew members transferring between vessels so they can sail them home. They also boast that storing and provisions have been done in the Bahamas. But to my knowledge, most of these vessels still sail to Miami or Port Everglades for storing and provisions.”

According to Dyring, had the Bahamas allowed charter flights out of their territory from day one, there would not have been so many seafarers stuck at sea and a lot of human suffering and uncertainty could have been avoided. To her knowledge, she said, the Bahamas has even denied medical evacuations from vessels registered there.

There are many governments that have failed both their own citizens and their obligations under the MLC, according to Dyring. She said there is a pattern of “overreactions” caused by what she called fear and not facts.

“I also have to highlight the situation in the Philippines where thousands of seafarers have been stuck either on a ship in Manila Bay or in some kind of quarantine situation in Manila for weeks and sometimes months for no apparent reason.

“The Philippine union AMOSUP has done a great job in the middle of all of this, but it is difficult when you have to work against all of these other forces.”

Some governments have stepped up and taken responsibility. Dyring mentioned that Barbados, for instance, has taken a vastly different approach to the challenges and have invited the cruise lines to operate charter flights out of their country.

Some countries in Europe have also taken their obligations seriously. Dyring said that the UK has stepped up, as well as Germany, Spain and Norway.

Read the full article in the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Summer 2020 edition, due out at the end of June.