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The Common Sense Catch 22!

Dear Editor,

Twenty-two ships sit off the coast of China, stranded by the standoff created by the differences between China and Australia.  Many of the ships have been there since June 2020, going on 7 months.  Many of the crew have now been on board for over 17 months.

Why can’t they go home?  Why can’t they be relieved by other sailors eager to come back to sea?

Except in very rare cases China will not allow crew changes for anyone other than Chinese seafarers.  At least one ship is flagged in Hong Kong, but that makes no difference.  COVID is the reason given, but this is hardly credible for these sailors on ships at anchor for the last 6 months.  This is isolation at the highest level.  They are obviously COVID free.

Shipowners could sail the ships to other countries and change the crew and then come back and join the line.  However, the charterers, the owners of the cargo do not agree, do not support losing their place in the line.  Money over people, the best example of the disrespect and attitude to seafarers in the maritime industry and especially by charterers. 

You would think insurers, lawyers, charterers and owners would find a way through this obviously ridiculous Catch 22 scenario?  How can an owner be penalized on a charter for acting humanely?  Extraordinary times call for extraordinary teamwork and common sense. 

These cargo owners are devoid of Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Owners are offering additional payments to crew, in some cases 100% uplift of salary.  This does not compensate for mental health.  The weather is cold, the conditions worsening, mental welfare is being abused.  One is reminded of innocent people being released from jail and given compensation; it does not replace the sentence.

When will the social injustice towards seafarers stop?  It must be time for China to do the sensible thing and allow these crew changes to happen, the risks are minimal. 

The public relations story is positive.  If not, then the charterers must see sense, the relationship between owners and charterers on off hire must be voided in this situation.  But then again, I am expecting charterers to care about human welfare.  Wishful thinking it seems.

Yours Sincerely,

Frank J Coles

Chief Executive Officer at Wallem Group

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