Thai or Non Thai Seafarers

[Gregjam]

Has any publicity been given to Thai seafarers unable to get home as a result of the Covid 19 restrictions. Internationally there has been some coverage regarding the plight of seafarers unable to either join or return home due to the restrictions and being in effect captive on the ships they serve in. I realise that Thailand is not a major maritime nation but there are Thai seafarers out there and I guess that they are unable to return home at the end of their contract. As a seafarer who is also stuck on a ship, over my contract but unable to get a relief due to the travel restrictions and even if that were possible I would not be able to return home to Thailand. On the ship I am on we have had no crew changes since early February and only now are the Chinese lads, all of whom are over contract, going to get a relief. This will be in China but due to the restrictions no foreigners are able to enter so I have to wait a bit longer.

While cruise ships seem to have suffered the worst, most ships continue trading keeping the world supplied with important things like fuel and food. Charterers are reluctant to allow a crew change where it will adversely affect passage times as in the case of a ship doing a crew change in Australia (after the joiner has two weeks isolation in a hotel room) the ship will then face a delay in China if the passage is less than 14 days (normal passage 7 days).

Having a job and being paid is very useful during this crisis but the press and public will be quick to criticise and comment when a ship has an accident due to human factors brought on by fatigue and concern for ones family when you are unable to assist. Seafarers in general garner little attention until things go wrong and as Thailand is a very minor player in the manning of international ships it will come as no surprise if their seafarers are attracting little concern or attention.

[DSB]

Gregjam you have my full sympathy as I am a recently retired seafarer. I have been in the situation of being told I am extending my trip, but nothing like the situation you and hundreds of thousands of seafarers are in. Unfortunately, I cannot see any end to this for a long time, and you along with all other seafarers will be told you cannot go home until airports are open and you can travel to your homes. This is on top of no shore leave, and the chances of contamination from shore people such as immigration, customs and stevedores.
There is also the problem of where you can fly to, At present Thailand will only allow Thai nationals to fly in to the country, which means that ex pats who live here have to fly back to their original country. May this end soon please!

[moja]

As the wife of a late seafarer you have my sympathy. Very few people know about you all being stuck on ships for the foreseeable future. I used to travel with my husband so I know what the life is like. I do not suppose the Company is doing anything to make life easier for you those days are long gone. Yours is one of the essential jobs but it will never be recognised as such.

[Nereus]

Yes, you have my sympathy also. Now retired from offshore oil work, but the same restrictions apply with them. There has been some internal crew changes in Australia, but the problem here is that unless you are a Thai there are no incoming international flights.